Dr. Theodore R.E. von Fange
Dr. Theodore R.E. von Fange
Feb. 23, 1917 – May 28, 2016
Dr. Theodore R.E. von Fange, formerly of Seward, was born Feb. 23, 1917, in Natoma, Kansas, to J.G. and Dorothea (Jahn) von Fange. He was baptized March 11, 1917, at Peace Lutheran Church in Natoma. On Oct. 27, 1939, he married Verda Kroeger at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. They were blessed with four children. Ted died in the Lord on May 28, 2016, at the Utica Community Care Center at the age of 99 years, 3 months and 5 days.
Ted spent his formative years at Concordia High School and then at Concordia College. He began his 44-year teaching career after only one year of college, teaching all eight grades at Zion Lutheran School in rural Guide Rock, then returning to Concordia to graduate. He then headed to Wauneta to teach in another one-room school with eight grades. He graduated a second time from Concordia in 1941, after a fourth year was added for a bachelor’s degree. He then received calls to teach in California. During his 44-year teaching career, he was called to help start new high schools in Cleveland, Ohio, Mayer, Minnesota, and San Diego, California, and to be principal at Houston Lutheran High School.
From 1963 to 1968 he was principal of the Academy at St. John’s College in Winfield, Kansas, and then served as head of the Education Department at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, until his retirement in 1983. After retirement he was elected to the Kansas State Board of Education, where he served two terms and initiated certification and accreditation procedures approved by the board.
Ted’s avocation was building houses. In all, he built 17 homes, nine for his family and eight for others, most for colleagues and retirees.
In 1991 Ted and Verda moved to Seward, where they became members of St. John Lutheran Church and he became an ardent volunteer, both at church and at Concordia, chairing Concordia’s 1992-93 Annual Fund Drive. He also helped pave the way for the construction of a new senior center in Seward, after helping to raise funds through the building of a spec home. He served as chair of the Seward County Aging Commission and established its foundation, helping to raise money for that. He was also a volunteer shuttle driver and tax preparer. In 2011, the City of Seward named him Volunteer of the Year. In 2012, he was awarded the Lifetime Service Award from the Concordia University Alumni Association. He was often known to say “I always thought that when God asks you to serve, you serve,” and “My faith determined my career path. You cannot divorce your faith from your life.”
Ted was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who was admired and respected by all who knew him.
Ted was preceded in death by his wife, Verda (Kroeger); parents, J.G. and Dorothea (Jahn) von Fange; two sisters, Anita Mehl and Meta Hieber; and four brothers, Walter, Arthur, Eugene and Erich.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Bryce Clausen of Utica; daughter, Sylvia von Fange of Austin, Texas; son and daughter-in-law, Howard and Rose von Fange of Wichita, Kansas; and daughter, Susan von Fange of Clinton Township, Michigan; grandchildren; Steve and wife Andrea Clausen of Lincoln, Krista and husband Shadd Rohrbough of Lincoln, Sarah von Fange of Wichita, Kansas; and Paul von Fange of Virginia Beach, Virginia; great-grandchildren, Kaleb Blakemore of Lincoln, Zachary Clausen of Lincoln and Dacia Maupin of Wichita, Kansas; sister Dorothy Werner of Fremont, Californa; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2016, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Zabka Funeral Home in Seward. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 3, at St. John Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Art Schauer officiating. Burial will follow at Seward Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Ted von Fange family for future designation.
