Joseph Langer 09/23/2024

Joseph Lawrence Langer died at 2:00am Monday morning on September 23rd, 2024, at the age of 87. He passed quietly in his sleep. Joe was born on the 7th of July in 1937 in Pierz, Minnesota to Frank and Ann Langer. He was the 4th of 14 children. The family moved several times while he was young, hiring out as workers on other’s farms, until they were able to buy a 5-acre lot near Somerset WI.

Later, Joe joined the National Guard and while stationed at Fort Leonardwood, MO, began writing to Karen Ann Pickering in Minot ND having received her address from a mutual friend.  When he had the chance, Joe moved to Minot, where he and Karen were married on July 16, 1958.

In Minot, Joe worked at the Bison Power Plant for Northern States Power but when the plant was scheduled to shut down, he was the first to transfer. After 13 years at the Bison Plant, he transferred to the Allen S. King plant in Bayport Minnesota, in 1972. Karen and their four children, Lori, Joe, Steve and Tim followed in November of that same year, and they settled in New Richmond WI. The following year, with the help of his brothers, Joe built a house 2 miles out of town on a 5-acre lot. The lot was an open field when they began, but Joe, with some help of his sons then aged 1 ½, 8, and 10, started planting trees even before the house was built. Over time, the open field became a 5-acre forest, and here Joe enjoyed gardening, caring for the trees, lawn and house, maintained cars and other equipment, often with a great deal of ingenuity.  He also volunteered for the Boy Scouts while his eldest son Joe was in scouting.

In 1995 Joe retired from NSP at the age of 57 And became even more busy, in the United Methodist Church, Masons, as well as working part time at the New Richmond cemetery. He also did a lot of wood working, including the unique lamps he would turn out on his lathe.

In November 2019, Joe and Karen moved into Deerfield in New Richmond, selling their house to their youngest son, Tim and his wife Michele.

Joe’s health was deteriorating. Diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and ALS, he was confined to a wheelchair and moved from independent to full care in July of 2022. Joe opted to go into Hospice treatment one week before his death.

Joe was preceded in death by his daughter, Lori Ann Langer; his parents, Frank and Ann; his brothers Robert, Francis, Marvin and Melvin; and his sisters Ramona BelleIsle and Bernadette Brom.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Karen; his three sons, Joseph, Steven (Stephanie) and Timothy (Michele); his brothers, Steven, David, Michael, Anthony and Vincent; his sisters, Mary Ann Quaderer and Anne Marie Abrahamson; as well as grandchildren, Kevin, Eric, Kaylee, Ashley, and Courtney; and great grandchildren, Aubrey, Andrew, Isaiah, Eleanor, Hunter, Dawson, Karson, Nolan, and Weston.

Joe Langer was a hardworking, generous, caring, kind and simple man.  He loved God, family, friends and nature.  He was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend.  He will be sorely missed.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 2:00PM at United Methodist Church (209 E 2nd St) in New Richmond, Wisconsin with visitation beginning at 12:00PM.  Joe’s dedicated service with the Masons was honored at 1:45PM. Interment was in New Richmond Cemetery, New Richmond, Wisconsin. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch the recording of Joe’s service.