After being set up on a blind date the first time they met, after a short courtship, he married M. Suanne Peterson in 1954. They celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary last December 12th.
Jim grew up in Davenport, Iowa and was the 1948 Class President of Davenport Central High School, where he also excelled in his favorite sports of golf and basketball. His 6’7” frame lent him to many successes in basketball, including being part of the Iowa State Championship team in 1948 and State Runner-Up team in 1949. In 2001 he was inducted into the Iowa State High School Basketball Hall of Fame. His college career at Iowa State included being a three-year lettermen for the Cyclones, captain of the team his senior year, and named to the All-Big Seven first team. A member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, he served as president his final year in school while graduating with a Bachelors of Architecture degree in 1954.
Jim and Suanne moved to Lincoln, when Jim accepted an offer to join the architectural firm of Davis and Wilson. Jim’s passion in design and growing as a professional in his craft led him to many accomplishments. After working his way up to officer status, the firm changed its name to Davis, Fenton, Stange and Darling in 1969 and Jim was elected president in 1977 and then chairman from 1979 to the time of his retirement in 1994. The buildings and facilities Jim was associated with are spread across Lincoln and Nebraska. They included, Lincoln East, Lincoln Southeast and Lincoln High high schools, Seacrest Field, Lincoln Air Terminal, National Bank of Commerce, Dorsey-Sandoz Laboratories, multiple University of Nebraska and Nebraska Wesleyan buildings, First Presbyterian Church, First Plymouth Church, Lincoln General Hospital (Bryan West) and multiple additions and master plans of the Bryan Memorial Hospital (Bryan East) campus.
Serving on boards of numerous professional, civic, and charitable organizations was also an area Jim enjoyed, including being a member of the American Institute of Architects and participating on multiple local and national committees. His other board experiences included serving as president of the Downtown Lincoln Association, Capital Association for Retarded Citizens, Hillcrest Country Club, Executive Club and chaired the United Way Campaign, the United Way Board, University Club Board and the Bryan Health Foundation Board. He also served in numerous leadership roles, including deacon, trustee and elder at First Presbyterian Church, where he was a member since 1957.
Despite all of the foregoing commitments, Jim and Suanne were faithful and joyful followers of their children’s and grandchildren’s activities and always made time to attend. His family will be forever grateful for the positive, determined and generous role model he provided.
Jim is preceded in death by his father and mother, his two sisters, Mary and Sandra, brother-in-law, Norman Hepper, son, Jonathan and two grandchildren, Joshua and Aaron. He is survived by his wife, Suanne, three children, Wade (Heidi) Stange, Drew (Holly) Stange and Grant Stange, his five grandchildren, Jordan (Jessica) Stange, Jocelyn Stange, Connor Stange, Dayton Stange and Collin (Emily) Stange and four great grandchildren.
Private interment at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. A Celebration of Life Service is being planned for 2:00 pm April 19, 2024, First Presbyterian Church, 840. S. 17th St.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his honor may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church Foundation of Lincoln or The Arc of Lincoln.