Dwight David Langer

1949 - 2024

Dwight David Langer (Boo), 74, of Richland, Washington went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 23, 2024. Dwight was born in Peru on November 17, 1949, the son of George A. Langer and Charlotte R. (Meischke) Langer.

Dwight attended Saint Charles elementary school. Dwight was a 1968 graduate of Peru High School and a 1972 graduate from Indiana State University (ISU) with a teaching degree in history. His plans were to find a teaching position at PHS and to coach football. However, unable to land a teaching position in Peru or with area schools, he went to the Peru Utilities looking for a job. He was a substitute teacher at Caston High School.

Dwight started working at the Peru Utilities at sixteen and was assigned to work with Dan McNabney then and every summer until he graduated from ISU. Danny and Dwight became best of friends and Danny became family.

Dwight met with Mr. Ralph Kerns, General Manager at Peru Utilities to ask for a lineman job. To Dwight's good fortune Mr. Kerns said that he would not hire him as a lineman, but instead, he said that he would create an office position for him in public relations. Dwight asked Mr. Kerns why and Mr. Kerns replied, "of all the kids I hired the summers you were the only one that came in to say, thank you."

Dwight then began working full time for Peru Utilities in February 1973. He held the positions of Public Relations Officer, Office Manager, and Assistant General Manager to Mr. Bill Buffington, General Manager.

As Assistant GM, Mr. Buffington made Dwight in charge of handling the formation of the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA). This required high-level meetings in New York and Chicago with representatives of large electrical power supply companies and State Senators.

Upon the death of Mr. Buffington, in June 1985, Dwight was appointed General Manager until February 1993 when he moved to the Dalles, Oregon to work as a General Manager for Northern Wasco County People's Utility District (PUD). Dwight remained General Manager until his retirement in December 2015.

Dwight received many awards through the years for his hard work and accomplishments as General Manager, namely Outstanding Special District Service Award, and the Rock Solid Award, a distinction usually reserved for federal legislators.

Jim Foster said, "He's passionate but not in an uncontrolled way. He's passionate in a way that comes from a lot of intelligence, a lot of understanding the issues and a lot of hard work."

Paul Titus laughed recalling one of Dwight's speaking habits. Dwight would get on a soapbox and would be very passionate about what he was discussing, then he would end with "that information and 50 cents can get you a pop in the lunchroom".

In short, Dwight worked in the utility business for 44 years, from 1972-1993.

Dwight married Rebecca Gilbreath in 1975 and had two sons, David Dwight and Joseph Andrew. Dwight and Rebecca later divorced and Dwight married Donna Lee in 1999.

Dwight and Donna enjoyed traveling to Germany to visit her family as well as several trips to Mexico, Canada and Hawaii. A favorite vacation spot for them was to Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Dwight was an avid golfer and made a hole-in-one in 2022.

Surviving are his wife, Donna of Richland, Washington; his son Joseph A. Langer of Conway, Arkansas; his brother, Jeep Langer, wife Wendy and daughter Andrea of Peru; and a sister, Michelle DaWalt, husband Todd of Peru.

Dwight was preceded in death by his son, David D. Langer, on July 8, 1996; his mother, Charlotte R. Langer on May 4, 2003; and his father George A. Langer on April 1, 2005.

A Mass will be held honoring Dwight March 14th, 2024 at 1:00PM at Saint Charles Catholic Church 58 West 5th Street, Peru, Indiana. Reverend Adam Mauman will be presiding.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Charles Catholic Church or Miami County Helping Hands both in Peru.

Family and friends will gather after the funeral mass in the Saint Charles gym for a dinner provided by the Caring Hearts Funeral Dinner Group of Saint Charles.