Fr. Donald Lange, retired priest of the Diocese of Madison, died on April 4, 2025, at the age of 89 at Sienna Meadows Memory Care in Oregon, Wis.
He was born on June 22, 1935, in Louisburg, Wis., and was Baptized at Immaculate Conception Church in Kieler in June 1935.
Father Lange is predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Adelheid (Ihm) Lange.
After attending Immaculate Conception School in Kieler, Father Lange completed his high school studies at Loras Academy, Dubuque, Iowa. He served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged. He completed his general collegiate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
He then taught English for two years at New Lisbon High School. He completed his philosophical studies at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., and his theological studies at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in St. Francis, Wis. Father Lange also completed graduate studies in Religious Education at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn.
Father Lange was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell of Madison, on May 23, 1970, at St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison.
Father Lange began ministering in the Diocese of Madison as a parochial vicar at St. William Parish, Janesville. He also served as an instructor at Beloit Catholic High School. He ministered as pastor at St. Patrick Parish, Benton; St. Joseph Parish, Sinsinawa; St. Bridget Parish, Ridgeway, with mission to Immaculate Conception Parish, Barneveld, from which he retired as pastor emeritus. Father Lange also served on the Diocese of Madison Ecumenical Commission, on the advisory committee to the Madison Catholic Herald newspaper, and on the Diocese of Madison Reconciliation and Arbitration Board. He participated in the Rock County jail ministry, and celebrated Mass at Oakhill Correctional Center in Oregon.
Father Lange was also a columnist for the Catholic Herald and his columns can be found here.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, 3685 Cty. Rd. HHH, Kieler, on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 11 a.m. Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison will celebrate the Mass, with Fr. Bart Timmerman, parochial administrator of the parishes of Queen of Martyrs Pastorate, Beloit, as homilist.
A visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Church both on Friday, April 11, from 9 a.m. until shortly before the time of the Funeral Mass, and earlier on Thursday, April 10, from 3 to 7 p.m., with a scripture service at 2:45 pm. Burial at Immaculate Conception Parish Cemetery, Kieler, will take place immediately following the Funeral Mass.
Online condolences may be left at Casey-McNett Funeral Home, Cuba City, at: caseymcnett.com/obituaries