Lenora Lange

 

PORTAGE –  Lenora Lange, age 96, of Portage, formerly of Glenview, Illinois, passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at Our House in Portage.

Lenora was born on March 6, 1915 in Crescent, Oklahoma, the daughter of Joe and Monty (Gibson) Whiteley.  Lenora and her daughter, Darlene, moved from Oklahoma to Chicago, at which time Lenora could attend the Art Institute of Chicago, where she was a graduate in Dress Design.  While studying at the Art Institute, she met and married Harold F. Lange on August 1, 1949.  They resided in Glenview until their retirement in 1974.  In 1951, their daughter, Linda, was born.  Lenora was an accomplished dress designer and enjoyed designing dresses for both herself and Linda.  She entered numerous fashion shows where she was awarded first place.  During this time, she was also a member of the Glenview Women’s Club, Glenview Community Church, and a charter member of Sky Crest Country Club.

Once they retired, Lenora actively pursued her passion for playing the violin.  Shortly after their move, she met a group of musicians who asked her to play her violin with their orchestra.  She was very proud to have worked her way up to first chair.  In 1989 she relocated to Waverly, Ohio, where she again met some wonderful retired musicians and asked to join their orchestra.  Lenora also found a new love of oil painting.  She found many hours of enjoyment between these two activities until she suffered a stroke in 1995.  She then moved to Portage, where she resided until her death.  

She is survived by two daughters, Darlene Starr-Hunter, Manchester, New Hampshire and Linda Lange (Bill) Manthey, Portage;  four grandchildren, Richard (Lorraine) Hunter, Concord, New Hampshire, Susan (Jon) Hunter-Blake, Harwich Port, Massachusetts, Jacqueline Manthey, Wisconsin Dells, and Jennifer Manthey, Portage;  a great-grandson, James (Nikki) Hunter, Concord, New Hampshire; a great-great-granddaughter, Genesis Starr Hunter;  other relatives and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husbands, Max Starr and Harold Lange.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at the Portage Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. David Hankins officiating.  Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Portage Presbyterian Church.  The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Portage Presbyterian Church.