Gary Lange

Gary H. Lange, age 83 of Holdingford, passed away after battling a long illness on Monday, January 15, 2024 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 20 at All Saints-St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holdingford with Rev. Virgil Helmin officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at All Saints-St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holdingford. 

Gary was born on December 21, 1940, growing up on a farm near Holdingford.  He graduated from Holdingford High School in 1958 and married Audrey Zwak in 1963 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Opole, MN.  He spent his working years as a truck driver.  First as an independent milk hauler, then for the Holdingford Mill, and beginning in 1969 for Maiers Transport & Warehouse in St. Cloud, MN, retiring in 2006.  Awarded many times for his safe driving, he enjoyed seeing the countryside through his windshield. 

Gary was dedicated to his family and his hometown.  He and Audrey raised four sons in Holdingford, he was a lifelong member and longtime usher at the St. Mary’s Parish, a 28-year member of the Holdingford Fire Department and served nine years on the Holdingford City Council. Gary provided calm, thoughtful, and dependable service to his community. 

He cherished his time with family and friends, playing cards, watching sporting events, fishing, and visiting.  A farm boy at heart, he was ready to help when needed. He had a quick dry wit, wonderful sense of humor, and will be dearly missed. 

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Audrey Lange of Holdingford; sons, Scott (Lori) of Rapid City, SD, Dean of Sartell, MN, Mark (Polly) of Hollister, CA, and Brad (Sonya) of Sauk Rapids, MN; grandchildren, Andrew, Halie, Taylor, and Riley; sister, Lois Solinger; and sister-in-law, Linda Zwak (Pat Marsolek). 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Francis; Audrey’s parents, Roman and Sophie Zwak; brother-in-law, Andrew Solinger; and former brother-in-law, Robert Ehrlichmann, Jr. 

Audrey and family wish to thank everyone at the St. Cloud Hospital, and the staff at Edenbrook for the care they provided Gary.