Heinz K. Lange

Heinz K. Lange, 82

Rockford IL - Heinz Kurt Lange, 82, passed away Sunday, August 10, 2014 at Rockford Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. Born November 24, 1931 in Schoenwaldeau, Germany, the son of Oskar and Elfriede (Anders) Lange. Met the love of his life, Elisabeth (Brendel) in her hometown of Bayreuth Germany. Their courtship was spent on the village dance floors in Obern and Unternschreez. Heinz journeyed to Racine WI one year before Elisabeth. They were married on November 7, 1953. Heinz worked first at Belle City Foundry (Racine Steel Casting) then Acme Die Casting. In 1963, he moved his family to Rockford IL where he worked for twenty-nine years at Barber Colman Company managing the die casting operations, retiring in 1994.
We remember.
Heinz loved playing chess. Long before computers had online games with other opponents, he played with friends in Germany via the mail, one move at a time - it took months to finish a game. He had multiple games going simultaneously and played live games at clubs in town.
Having a computer, for Dad, was a tool to explore all his favorite interests. Along with online interactive chess, he was an enthusiast for weather, astronomy, photography, and music. He set up and monitored webcams for his home town and cool places around the world. Dad was a quick learner and impressed us all with his internet/computer savvy skills.
Dad was a loving and caring father and grandfather. As a young child, he often let me help him with different chores, so I learned to paint, pound a nail, saw wood, cut down trees, and more. All us kids would ride bikes with him, once we rode all the way to Sugar River from Rockford. We went to parks often and usually stopped for ice cream, one of his favorite treats. He loved and respected all nature. We learned about insects, birds and the mammals around the yard from him.
On the times Dad went away on a business trip, he would bring us kids a small gift and for me it was always a book. The first one was called "Pink Lemonade and the Circus Parade". I read it so much the binding tore. To this day, I am a passionate reader and books are a source of learning and joy. My father saw this in me as a young child and helped me to grow what he sensed brought me pleasure. I witnessed countless times his immense joy in encouraging and fostering the interests and talents he saw in my siblings and then his grandchildren. He was a natural, instinctive life teacher.
Grandpa was always loving, involved, and patient and he loved kindling my curiosity on any subject he could. Going to their house was nothing less than magical as a child with their big forest of a back yard. Once, together we built a bow and arrow out of tree branches we found in the yard then tried to shoot down pears that only grew really high in the tree. My brother and cousin would build forts in the back yard and we decided to booby trap one with a deep hole I dug and covered with leaves. Grandma and Grandpa had a laugh calling me and saying Grandpa broke his leg in the trap. There are so many stories that are still a source of joy and wisdom. I carry many of the loves and passions I learned about through Grandpa to this day; nature, chess, family and our German heritage, sports, and how to be a loving and accomplished man and leader.
Survivors include wife Elisabeth; daughters Susan (Bill) Seidel of Rockford, Sharon Lange Nelson of Las Vegas, and Renee (Bart) Rinn of Algonquin; grandchildren Stephen (Jaclyn, girlfriend), Sean (wife Lindsey), Seth, step-grandchildren Stephen, Amanda, Katlyn, step-great-grandson Xavier, numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Predeceased by parents, son Norbert Heinz Lange, sister Brigitte (Karl) Ringlein, and brother Kurt Lange.
A celebration of his life memorial will be held at Klehm Aboretum, 2715 S Main St, Rockford, IL 61102 on Sunday, August 24th from 12:00-3:00pm. There will be an opportunity for you to share your memories of Heinz. Flowers were loved by Heinz, and Elisabeth would welcome them at her home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Illinois Chess Association's Warren Junior Program or the American Lung Association in Heinz' honor.