Diane Lange

Grateful to have witnessed creation, Diane returns to the warm darkness from whence she came. Always curious about the world around her she loved nature and wanted to learn more, explore colors and bring out the beauty she saw in so many places.

Diane was an independent type who relished her personal freedom and privacy. She loved to explore, through reading, traveling, and most of all thinking. There was always something new to see. The world was always bigger. Diane could see connections and had a rich inner life that very few were privy to.

Color, architecture, art and design, construction, the human mind, history, birds and her buddy Orange Julius were her particular loves. Diane loved to swim and could get really enthusiastic to Motown music. Such joy.

Diane was particularly proud of having accomplished what the great Mythologist Joseph Campbell called a "hero's journey". In her early 20s she hitchhiked halfway around the world alone on a shoestring. It took two years. The experiences of other cultures, and the challenges of the journey informed her whole life from then on. She remained in touch with people she met in all the years since. Lifelong lessons learned.

Proud of being the first female Building Inspector in Michigan working for a municipality, she enjoyed working on jobsites with the project managers and encountered few problems in the field. She was also a licensed Residential Builder and loved working with her hands. It was in her blood. Her grandfather was Jacob Baker, a Grand Rapids contractor. Some of his projects are still in use. Diane believed, and hoped, decades working on her own remodeling projects, inspecting buildings sites, and speaking in high school career days would help carve new expectations for young women in the work world.

Early on she chose to live a childfree life and 'mother' the earth by not having children herself. Diane committed her energies to living an artistic life, through whatever medium caught her fancy: flower gardens, ink and pen, collage, plaster, acrylic paint, lumber, though she did not consider herself a true artist. She loved the abundant creativity of the childfree life.

In the Native American tradition, Diane leaves behind a 'light footprint'. Two beautifully remodeled houses and gardens, a half-sister Dawn Mintz (deceased), half-nephew David, and nieces Debra and Denise, cousins Brad Lange and Judy Lange, brother Philip Lange and many other family members.

Per Diane's wishes, her ashes are to be blended in the waters of Lake Michigan. A memorial celebration is scheduled for 11am on Thursday October 24, 2024 at Fountain Street Church located at 24 Fountain Street NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 with a display of Diane's art.

Memorial contributions can be made in her name to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation in Chicago Il., Dystonia is a rare muscle movement disorder.

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