Kern Sierra Unit

Dr. Detlev Lange Obituary

Dr. Lange passed away quietly at his home on July 22, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was 85.

Born in Eisenstadt Austria in 1940, his family had to separate at an early age, and he and his mother emigrated to the US in 1950 amid the tumult of WWII. His father and sister stayed behind in Europe. He did not know if he would ever see them again. Arriving at Ellis Island in New York Harbor, the memory of seeing the Statue of Liberty made a distinct impression that remained the rest of his life. Settling initially in the south, he quickly had to adapt to American culture, including learning English, sometimes with the help of comic books, and with a distinctly southern accent. Boyhood dreams were shaped by stories of cowboy heroes of the day, and set him on a path he would follow for the rest of his life.