Kenneth Edward Lorang

In Loving Memory of Ken Lorang
Kenneth Edward Lorang, age 74, passed away suddenly of a heart attack in the early hours of December 21. Just six hours before his passing, Ken picked up his daughter Lisa, her husband, David, and granddaughter, Kyra, at the airport. The family enjoyed a relaxing dinner at home after a hectic day. It was three-year-old Kyra's first Christmas in Virginia, and Ken was elated to spend time with his only grandchild. The family treasures these final hours as a precious gift.
Ken was born on May 26, 1950, in Elgin, Illinois, to Kenneth Harry Lorang and Beverly Holtz. After graduating from Larkin High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. Following his military service, he attended Elgin Community College and went on to earn a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1975.
Ken began his professional career with Mobil Pipeline Company, where he contributed to the construction of the East-West Pipeline in Saudi Arabia. In 1976, Ken met Linda Rose Hudy in Urbana, Illinois. They had a long distance, letter-writing relationship while Ken was in Dallas, and they married in February 1977. They lived in Wichita for a few months before moving to Houston for the design portion of the Saudi pipeline project. Upon completion of the project in 1981, Ken spent two years in the US division in Virginia before going to Mobil's then corporate headquarters in Manhattan, where he remained until 1990. Daughters, Lisa and Lori, were born in suburban New Jersey during this period. Over the years, he held various roles within Mobil Oil Corporation and later ExxonMobil, which allowed him to travel extensively for work. He retired in 2006, though he continued to work part-time for Pipeline Research Council International for an additional five years.
Ken stayed active by traveling, overseeing remodeling projects at home, and by staying fit at the gym. He hiked down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in 2012. Ken went to Village of Hope in Haiti with teams from Lord of Life Lutheran and St. John's LCMS. He made a total of nine trips between November 2014 and January 2019, leading teams in 2017 and 2018. His generosity extended to all aspects of his life, particularly in his volunteer work.
A lifelong dog lover, Ken shared a special bond with the family's two golden retrievers, Sunshine and Cuervo and is no doubt enjoying being with them again.
Ken is survived by his wife of 48 years, Linda; daughters Lisa (David Hatchner and granddaughter Kyra) of Santa Fe, NM, and Lori of Fairfax, VA; sisters Barbara McClanahan (Chuck) and Susan Hansen (Ken) of Elgin, IL; brother Paul of St. Cloud, FL; as well as three nephews and their families, numerous cousins, and many dear friends. He was predeceased by his parents and infant brother, Keith.
A celebration of Ken's life will be held in the spring to mark what would have been his 75th birthday. Details will be announced later, with the service taking place at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Fairfax, VA.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans supplied tee shirts for volunteers on the Haiti trips with the motto, "Live Generously". This is the way Ken lived his life. Please donate to your favorite charity in Ken's memory.