Waldo Dale Lang, 91, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024. He was born in Tampa, KS on July 5, 1933 to Rudolph Carl and Bertha Weiss Lang.
Waldo attended Stony Point School for first through eighth grade and graduated from Dickinson County Community High School (Chapman, KS) in 1951. He worked on the family farm before joining the United States Army in 1953, serving until 1955. Waldo then graduated from Kansas State University in 1960 with a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering.
Waldo and Dorothy Howie married in Abilene on May 26, 1957. To this union their three children Susan, Sandy, and Steve were born.
Waldo and Dorothy lived in several locations in Kansas before settling outside of Abilene, KS. He worked for Ehrsam’s Manufacturing for many years, eventually becoming President. Waldo enjoyed his work with Ehrsam’s, but his love of farming never faded and at the age of 40, he quit his job in the pursuit of a farming career. He was still actively farming into his 80s and never officially retired, but rather let his son and grandsons help him with his farming endeavors in his last few years.
In 1996 and 1997, Waldo consulted for Ehrsam’s on projects in Bangkok, Thailand, Chile, and Indonesia. This afforded Waldo and Dorothy a rare opportunity to travel and experience other cultures.
Waldo was a devoted husband and father. He dedicated himself to his family’s happiness and well-being, and always put others above himself. He was a kind and generous man, strong as the earth he so devotedly tended. Waldo will be greatly missed not only by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but also by many nieces, nephews and other family members who have lovingly embraced him as the patriarch of the Lang family.
In addition to his parents, Waldo is preceded in death by his wife Dorothy; six brothers and four sisters. He is survived by a sister, LaVella Burjes; his children Susan (Steve) Powell, Sandy (Greg Smith) Lang, and Steve (Jill) Lang; grandchildren Chris (Giselle) Powell, Thomas Powell, Cameron (Jessie Ammann) Lang, Cassie Lang, Cody (Sierra) Lang, Olivia (Gus Bryant) Crist, and Ava Crist; great-grandchildren Archer and Atlas Powell, Copeland, Everett, Leo and Harvey Lang, Kolter Ammann and Rocket Lang, and Baby Bryant due in February 2025.
Those who wish to do so may make memorial gifts in Waldo’s name to Neighbor to Neighbor or The Abilene Area Food and Clothing Center and they may be sent in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3rd, Abilene, Kansas 67410.