The Superior Express -

Raymond Paul Lange was born on Dec. 3, 1926, on the family farm two miles east of Mankato, to Paul and Jessie McNabb Lange. He died Dec. 12, 2021, at the age of 95 years and 11 days. Ray was the sixth child in his family and was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and five siblings: Leo, Wilma, Emil (Bud), Dorothy, and Arthur (Bill); grandson Christopher Alyn Railsback; nephews Jim Lange and Earl Dean Leonard and nieces Joyce Marie Lange and Charlotte Lange McCracken.

Ray attended first through eighth grades at Red Top school northeast of Mankato and then worked on the family farm. Ray enjoyed drawing and painting and was also skilled in woodworking. In early 1942, his parents sold their Jewell County farm and moved to Marshall County where Ray and his father farmed near Salem Lutheran Church south of Axtell. In the late 1940s, Ray also worked for the township and learned how to use early-day heavy equipment to maintain county roads. He worked on a combine crew, husked a lot of corn, and worked for neighbors on their farms.

In 1950, Ray entered the United States Army, completed basic training at Ft. Riley, served as a training cadre at Fort Riley, and then was deployed to Korea where he rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class while serving in the infantry. While he was in Korea, his parents moved back to Jewell County to be near their older children, so after being discharged from the Army, Ray returned to Jewell County and began working for the State of Kansas Department of Transportation. He married Faryl McDill in April 1955, and they welcomed three daughters into the family. In the early 1960s, he began working for the City of Mankato and stayed with the city until he retired in December 1991.

Raymond was a life-time member of the Jewell County Memorial VFW 7830, Jewell American Legion and the Jewell County Historical Society. He also maintained membership in The Combat Infantrymen’s Association, Inc., the Second Indianhead Division Association and several Korean War veterans’ organizations. He enjoyed attending reunions in the 1980s and 1990s. In the 1960s, he was a member of the Mankato Fire Department. He is remembered by his family as a hard-working man who believed in doing the best job possible. He spent many early morning hours blading snow in the city of Mankato and checking wells on the weekends to ensure the Mankato water tower was not low on water. His work ethic was passed on to his daughters.

He is survived by Faryl, his wife of 66 years; his daughters, Corlene Lange, Barbara Railsback, and Janelle Greene; sons-in-law, Burton Railsback and Scott Greene; grandchildren Matt Railsback and wife, Allison, Chelsey Greene, Corbin Greene, and Allison Railsback; great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Savannah Railsback; sister-in-law, Phyllis Lange; brothers-in-law, Mahlon McDill and Marvin McDill; niece, Joyce Ann David; nephews, Russell Lange and Ben Lange; and several great nieces and nephews.

The family selected cremation and his funeral will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 20, at Melby Mortuary, Mankato with Pastor Thaddeus Hinkle officiating. Burial of the cremains will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the mortuary. The family suggests memorials to the Jewell County EMS in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit http://www.melbymor tuary.com.