Nancy F Lange

Nancy Evelyn (Friesz) Lange of Fenton, Missouri entered eternal life on Monday, December 16, 2024. Nancy was born October 17, 1931 in Keytesville, Missouri to Arthur and Mabel (Voss) Friesz, the 10th of eleven children. She attended schools in Keytesville and Salisbury, Missouri and graduated from Missouri University in 1953 with a degree in Education. She taught in schools in Hamilton and California, Missouri, before her marriage. Nancy met her husband, Rev. Robert E. Lange, when both were teenagers in central Missouri. They were married June 5, 1955 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Salisbury, Missouri and their 62 years together were blessed with five children: Steven, of St. Louis (Karen, of Belleville, Illinois), Susan (Rev. John) Mehl of Seward, Nebraska, Rev. Michael (Kristi), of Livermore, California, Dr. Daniel (Linda) of Bloomington, IL, and Rev. Thomas (Beth) of Concordia, Missouri. From these children have come 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Nancy and Bob began their married years in St. Louis, Missouri, where Bob was a student at Concordia Seminary. Together they moved several times, as Bob served on the faculty of St. Paul's College and High School in Concordia, Missouri, as pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Kirksville Missouri, and then as a full-time Campus Pastor at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. In 1991 they moved to their final home together in Fenton, Missouri when Bob became the Counselor for Campus Ministry for The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Nancy readily admitted, as a newcomer to the Lutheran Church, that the role of pastor's wife was not initially comfortable for her, but she found opportunities to serve and use her gifts in each new community. Nancy developed a heart for sharing the good news of Jesus. She and Bob regularly engaged in formal and informal evangelism calls finding many ways to share the Christian faith during their years together. Together they prayed for those in need within and outside the faith consistently for many decades. This is a practice Nancy continued up until her death. For many years, Nancy was focused on caring for her children, using her considerable skills in cooking, gardening, and sewing to provide a happy home life, and encouraging them in school, sports, music, and other activities. During Bob's years of campus ministry, Nancy often participated in the student events and outings that were part of that work, as well as welcoming students into their home. Nancy loved the outdoors and sports. She was a fan of Mizzou athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. She was also an avid golfer after moving to St. Louis. Together, she and Bob planned extensive family vacations to many parts of the United States, which included camping, canoeing, hiking, swimming and fishing. Nancy and Bob continued traveling together within the US and overseas throughout their life, on trips that were part of Bob's work, visiting their children as they grew and moved, and on a variety of mission trips and servant events. Nancy was a long-time member of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League, as both a member and officer. She and Bob together found many ways to serve at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Fenton, and Nancy has remained active there since Bob's death in July of 2017, especially enjoying her quilting group. Although she considered moving from her home to a retirement community, the thought of leaving her church home in Fenton was always a factor in choosing to remain where she was as long as she could. Besides her children and their families, Nancy is survived by one sister, Carolyn (Duane) Olsen of Lincoln, Nebraska, and many nieces and nephews whom she and Bob loved, enjoyed and encouraged over the years. It took a lot for Nancy and Bob to miss either a Friesz or Lange reunion! She is preceded in death by her husband Robert, her parents, sisters Ina May Fellows, Jennie Hibler, Eleanor Hilton, and June Glaser, and brothers Johnny, Brad, Elmo, Robert, and Walter. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Fenton, or to Mission of Christ Network https://missionofchrist.org/

Nancy F Lange

October 17, 1931 - December 16, 2024