Leona Johanna Emma Michel Lange, 93, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away Saturday, August 27, 2016. She was born January 19, 1923, at home on the family farm near Johnson, Nebraska, to the late Otto and Louise Michel. She was baptized February 4, 1923, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, also known as Hickory Grove Church. She attended Roosevelt Rural School District #26 through the 8th grade and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on March 21, 1937, again at the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Psalm 91:1-2 served as her confirmation verses—“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’” (NIV).
On August 20, 1948, Leona was united in marriage to Clarence William Lange at St. Paul Lutheran Church. For approximately 9 years, they lived on a farm close to Brock, Nebraska. On August 7, 1949, Leona gave birth to the couple’s only child, a daughter they named Ruth, and in 1957, they had a farm sale and moved to Auburn, Nebraska. There, Leona became a seamstress and worked in sewing factories for many years. She also had her own sewing business at the same time she and Clarence managed the High Rise Apartments for the Elderly in Auburn. Then, at the age of 50, they moved to Omaha, Nebraska, and became members of Rejoice Lutheran Church. Leona secured a retail position with the Younkers Department Store Chain and worked there for 22 years. Although she retired at the age of 72, she remained a seamstress for her friends and family.
Leona and Clarence were members of the German American Society in Omaha. They spent many Saturday evenings there with all their friends. Clarence taught Leona how to dance, and dance they did! Leona was also a member of the German American Women’s Auxiliary. The couple sang in the German Choir at the Society and participated in four Sing-Fests in different locations across the United States. Leona always enjoyed the annual Oktoberfest celebrations and cut the buns and tortes at every festival. Because she read, wrote, and spoke German all her life, she was the family interpreter during correspondence with German-speaking friends and relatives.
After Clarence passed away in 1997, Leona lived alone for approximately four and a half years until she moved in with her widowed daughter Ruth. In March 2006, she welcomed a new son-in-law, Pat Langan, and lived with the couple in their Omaha and Lincoln homes until a brief residence in Ambassador Nursing Home in August 2016. During her time with Pat and Ruth, she attended the Faith Lutheran Church in Lincoln.
Of all the things Leona enjoyed in life, she loved her family the most and embraced being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She valued the time spent with each child, grandchild, and great-grandchild with special routines, surprises, and wisdom from her past experiences. She enjoyed sewing and tailoring special blankets, clothes, and gifts for her family as well as solving volumes of crossword puzzles and watching her favorite game shows and soap operas every day. She especially loved to watch The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, and The Young and the Restless, the last which she always affectionately called “her story.”
On Saturday, August 27, 2016, Leona passed away at the Ambassador Nursing Home in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the age of 93. She was preceded in death by her parents Otto and Louise Michel, husband Clarence, son-in-law Gary Cameron, and brother Edwin Michel. She is survived by her daughter Ruth Langan and her husband Pat of Lincoln, Nebraska; grandson Chuck Cameron and his wife Marnay of Nokesville, Virginia; step-granddaughter Teri Dee and Ryan of Lincoln, Nebraska; sister Hilda Eitzmann of Lincoln, Nebraska; sister-in-law Elsa Michel of Auburn, Nebraska; five (5) great-grandchildren Marissa, Mason, and Tyson Cameron of Nokesville, Virginia, Graeme and Maggie Dee of Lincoln, Nebraska; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.