William Gustav Lange Iii

Below is a tribute from William's wife, Karen:

Dear friends and family,

It is with a heavy heart that I’m writing to you to let you know that my husband, Bill Lange, passed away on October 31st.

We were biking, as we often did, and just stopped for a water break. While we were talking, he fell over and never regained consciousness. Some of his doctors said it was heart failure. We are comforted to know he didn’t suffer. He was doing what he loved to do and lived his life to the fullest!

I will always cherish memories of the times we spent with each of you. As you may know Bill loved golfing and I know many of you golfed with him. Afterward he could tell me what every hole he played was like and what he scored. He treasured his time with all of you, I know.

He will always be missed by his family. I know we will see him again in heaven.

I pray we will all cherish those we love, because each day is a gift.

Wishing you all peace, joy and love in 2023.

Karen Lange

Below is a tribute from William's daughter, Courtenay:

With deep sorrow and profound sense of loss we inform William Gustav Lange III passed away October 31, 2022 at Beaumont Hospital in Trenton, MI, 81. Bill was surrounded by family and holding the hands of his wife, Karen, and daughter, Courtenay.

Born September 24,1941 in Bucks County, Philadelphia, a gentle soul whose fierce love of his family was always made obvious. Known as Bill to most, dear husband to Karen, Dad to Matt and Courtenay, Stepdad to Kristen, Pop to his grandchildren, a loyal friend and helpful neighbor. Whatever the title, he was supportive as a snow laden cedar and only as happy as those he cared for.

Bill grew up in Phillie and on the shores of Stone Harbor, NJ. He earned degrees from Penn (Dean’s List), Kentucky Wesleyan (academic scholarship) and the University of Miami. Thirty-three years were spent as a buyer for Ford and another ten at Kenmar. Married to Karen in 1985, they spent the last 35 years living on Hickory Island, enjoying long bike rides and days sailing together. Bill served as commodore and board member of the Yacht Club and as board member, Vice President and President of West Shore Golf and Country Club. Long stretches were also shared in Cape May Court House, NJ, where Bill dreamed of settling with Karen full time.

A man of many hobbies, Bill knew nothing of boredom. He was an avid golfer, cyclist, skier, and sailor who played guitar, accordion & ukulele. He enjoyed tennis, ice skating, archery, target shooting, photography, reading and flying remote controlled planes. Once he decided to learn something, he dove in head first. The next time you saw him, he could offer lessons.

Bill would regale with seemingly tall tales of dancing on American Bandstand, ice skating in the windows of Wanamaker's department store, driving a zamboni, achieving Eagle Scout, being “Chief Rat Eliminator'' on boats of the Jersey shore, capers with his Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers and that hole in one. Stories were spun while he polished off crab cakes, Karen’s macaroni and cheese and cherry vanilla ice cream. More incredulous? They were all true. Requests from his grandchildren to play mini golf, board games, get in that last ski run, take one more spin around the block, were always met with Yes! His pride in them, and his children, was deep and shining.

Bill was rich with love, given and bestowed. He found joy in simple pleasures and his laugh, similar to Santa’s Ho, Ho, Ho!, was contagious. How lucky we were to have had someone so hard to say goodbye to.

Bill is survived by his wife, Karen Lange; children, Matthew Lange, Courtenay Lange and Kristen Thompson; grandchildren, James Thompson, Ben Thompson, Grace Thompson and Wren Walton. Bill is also survived by his former wife, Jean Lange and predeceased by his father, William G. Lange, Jr., his mother, Elsie Lange and sister, Nancy Lange.

~written lovingly by Courtenay Lange