William Joseph Lange

William Joseph (Joe) Lange passed away at his home on November 3, 2025, surrounded by his family. Joe was born on March 14, 1940, in Washington DC, and grew up in Wood River, Nebraska. He married Patricia Rink on July 7, 1963, at the University of Nebraska Lutheran Chapel in Lincoln, Nebraska. They lived in Ft. Bening, Georgia, Ft. Devens, Massachusetts and Ft. Meade, Maryland while Joe served his country. In 1967, Joe took a job in civil service at a research lab at Holloman Air Force Base. He, Pat and their two small children moved to Alamogordo, New Mexico and later to Albuquerque.

Joe served in the US Army Security Service at Ft. Meade, Maryland. During nine years of employment at Holloman Air Force Base, he tested Apollo space suits for the NASA Apollo Missions, a Saturn model for vibration integrity, and readied electronic equipment that chimpanzees then used to test equipment for the safety of astronauts in space. When he transferred to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, he worked on various laser projects involving the propagation of high power lasers in the atmosphere.

Joe and Pat were blessed to have a church family, making friends wherever they were attending services in the cities they called home.

Beginning in the 1980's, Joe and Pat enjoyed hiking and backpacking with friends in the National Parks of the Western United States. After Joe retired, he and Pat spent time caring for their grandchildren at their home in Albuquerque, in California, and on their many trips with them. The younger generation created the adventure for them all.

Joe was preceded in death by mother Frieda Lange, his father William Lange, Sr., brother Charles Lange, sister Grace Pollack and her husband Norman, sister-in-law Lyanne Lange, brothers-in law Marcus Rink and Terry Johnson.

He is survived by his wife Pat, son Matthew Lange (Lori), daughter Michel Wallace (Bobby), grandchildren, Dallas Vigil, Cheyenne Lange, Skylar Wallace, and Ryan Lange, great granddaughters Trinity, Kailey and Lexie Vigil, Aliyah and Melanie Gomez, sister Frieda Johnson, sisters-in-law Kathy Dostal, Marcia Pauling (Dick), Karen Merritt, Colleen Lange and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1750 Faith Ct NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87112, officiated by Pastor Bruce Wilder. Joe's family is very appreciative of visits to him by Pastor Wilder and the attentive care given to him by the staff at Gentiva Home Hospice and Mathew Clay of Hawley Homecare.

Burial will take place at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy consider making a donation to Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.