John E. Lange

John Edward Lange, age 94, of St. Joseph, MN passed away on January 3, 2025, at Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Cloud, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Saint John’s Abbey & University Church in Collegeville, MN. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the Mass. 

 John was born on March 12, 1930, to Leo and Clara (Newman) in New Rockford, ND. After leaving the family farm, he graduated in 1948 from Sacred Heart Academy in Fargo, ND, and then from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN, in 1952. Upon earning his Master’s in Mathematics from St. Louis University, MO, in 1954, he taught for a year at Villanova University before joining the faculty at Saint John’s University in 1955. From 1958-1961 he earned his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and then he returned to Saint John’s, where he continued to teach Mathematics for 34 years, serving as the Vice President and Academic Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences from 1969-1972. 

 While studying in St. Louis, John met Rita Heinz, the love of his life. The two were married on September 4, 1954, and for the next 62 years they raised four children, taught, travelled widely, and eagerly hosted family, friends, students, and colleagues at their homes in St. Cloud and their cabin on Woman Lake. Upon retiring after four decades at Saint John’s University, John became a master gardener, fished avidly, and took up woodworking, creating furniture, toys, and lamps until Rita died in 2016. In 2017, a new love entered his life—his dear friend, Deanna Bishop.

 John is survived by his children – Gregory (Mary) Lange of Brainerd, MN; Ruth (Charles) Hoffman, of New Brighton, MN; Brother David Paul Lange O.S.B., of Saint John’s Abbey, Collegeville, MN; and Mark (Maria) Lange of Brooklyn Park, MN; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; sister Janice Gellerman of Sioux Falls, SD and brother James (Jerene) Lange of Salem, OR. John is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Gerald and Joseph. 

 The Mass of Christian Burial will be live streamed through the Saint John’s Abbey website, and interment at the Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery will follow the funeral and luncheon. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made either to the Quiet Oaks Hospice House or to Saint John’s Abbey Woodworking. 

Arrangements have been entrusted with the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter, MN.

1. Floral Information
2. Southway Greenhouse and Floral
3. 2751 Clearwater Road
4. St. Cloud MN 56301
5. 320-251-2520