Obit: Lang, Luke Francis (1926 - 2017)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Beilke, Diermeier, Fuchs, Krautkramer, Lang, Miller, Panning, Rajek, Robinson, Roche, Siebert, Skrzypcak, Timler, Wadzinski, White

----Source: The Record - Review (Abbotsford, WI) 3/23/2017

Lang, Luke Francis (13 AUG 1926 - 21 MAR 2017)

Luke Francis Lang, 90, King, WI (formerly of Marathon City) passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 with family at his side.

The youngest of 15 children, he was born August 13, 1926 on the family farm in Cassel, WI, the son of the late Andrew and Anna (Fuchs) Lang.

Luke graduated grade school from a 1-room schoolhouse in rural Edgar, and graduated from Edgar High School in 1945. After graduation, Luke enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served in Germany during WWII. He was a Technician 5th Class and was honorably discharged in 1947.

After the Army he worked in the family logging business until he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where he graduated in 1951 with a Degree in Agriculture Education and General Science. He was hired at Marathon High School in 1951 as the Agriculture Teacher, where he remained until he retired in 1987 after 36 years of teaching. He married Dolores Miller on June 2, 1951 (she preceded him in death in 2014) at Holy Family Church, Poniatowski and they moved to Marathon that same year.

Luke was the FFA Advisor at Marathon High School and attended FFA Conventions and was a livestock judge at the Wausau Fair. He arranged annual field trips for the FFA students and made farm visits weekly. In 1960, Luke received his Master's Degree in Science from the University of Wisconsin. Luke was Vice President of the State Agriculture Teachers Association, and President of the Teachers Association at Marathon High School.

Luke was involved in the Marathon community as Marathon Village Trustee, Secretary of the Lions Club, President of American Legion Post No. 469, Fun Days Float Committee. He was an active member of St. Mary's Parish, Marathon for 64 years where he was involved with Catholic Order of Foresters, Parish Council Committee, President of Third Order of St. Francis, Holy Name Society. He attended daily mass and distributed communion to shut-ins for many years. He also delivered meals on wheels.

Luke enjoyed spending time with his family and friends on camping trips and traveling around the United States. After retirement, Luke and Dolores traveled to many international countries and took many cruises. They also attended 30 different Elderhostel's in many different states.

Luke's pride and joy was his vegetable garden and fruit trees – there was always enough to share with family and friends. He loved to hunt for deer, duck, geese, turkey. He enjoyed fishing and his annual trips to Canada. Luke was a member of bowling leagues at Marathon Lanes for many years, and enjoyed playing poker and sheepshead with family and friends. Luke was able to travel to Washington, D.C. in 2011 with other veterans on the Honor Flight out of Mosinee.

Luke is survived by his 6 children. Daughters, Charmaine (Jim) Timler, Wausau; Carmen Lang, Fish Creek/Sarasota, FL; Nancy (Sly) Krautkramer, Marathon; Lenore (Rusty) Beilke, Appleton; Annette (Mark) Skrzypcak, Edgar. Son, Bruce (Suzie) Lang, Marathon. He is further survived by 15 grandchildren, Elisha Robinson, Josh (Katie) Wadzinski, Jessie (Shawn) Siebert, Dusty (Sara) Lang, Cassie Lang, Luke Lang, Carissa (Scott) Panning, Mitch Krautkramer, Brent Krautkramer, Danielle Beilke, Brice (Allison) Beilke, Trent Beilke, Brianna Skrzypcak, Kaitlyn Skrzypcak, Shania Skrzypcak, and 1 step-grandchild, Garth (Angela) Timler; and 10 great grandchildren. He is also survived by 2 sisters, Arlene White, San Diego; Angeline Rajek, Marathon. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Dolores; sisters, Hildegard, Anna, Agnes, Adeline, Dorothy, Leona; brothers, Louis, Ben, Andrew, Alfred, Rudolf, George.

The Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 31, 2017 at the Main Chapel on Marden Avenue at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, WI, followed by Full Military Honors outside the Chapel. Address – N2665 County Road QQ, King, WI 54946. Rev. Amalraj Roche will preside and Rev. Msgr. Joseph Diermeier will co-celebrate. Visitation will start at 9:30am until time of service at the Main Chapel at King. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Marathon.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home in Marathon from 4-8pm. There will be a rosary service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a veteran's prayer service led by the American Legion Post #469, Marathon. In lieu of flowers memorials in Luke's name may be made to Spiritual Care Department in care of Sister Martha Mafurutu, Catholic Chaplain, at King Veterans Home.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.