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Uncategorized admin | 10 Feb 2010

Dr. Allen Lang 6/21/20 – 5/17/09

The following are recollections of Dr. Lang that were pulled together for Grandpa’s Memorial Service which was held on June 21st, 2009. Only a fraction of these were shared during the service, so wanted to share the rest of them here.

Family Man

  1. Less than a week after their wedding, Allen and Elsie invited Allen’s sister Phyllis McKimpson over for dinner.  Phyllis insists:

I tried to refuse because I felt they were entitled to have the time to themselves, but they insisted.  At the dinner, Allen was serving the meat.  I thought—aha!  I wonder how long that is going to last!  I think it has lasted a long time

  1. There’s the way Daddy never forgets, and won’t let you ever live down, embarrassing situations.  They way he lifts his hat back, scratches his head, and says, “Well, I figure”—always counting ears of corn or bales of hay or the number of pheasants or something.  There’s his gentle spoofing of those who pass by on Prairie du Chien Road and eye his field corn.  They see only the giant varieties planted in the first row.  (Hopefully they don’t see the splinter supports keeping a few from toppling over!)  We children can count on our annual supply of Daddy’s sweet corn, Indian corn, and the best popcorn since Orville Redenbacher.
  1. Dawn Lang (Jamie’s Wife)

Always the teaser, one of the first times I met Grandpa Lang he told me I needed to have boys with Jamie since he was the last Lang.  He was very funny about it, but also a bit serious too.

  1. Joy Lang

My favorite anecdote from the distant past was when Grandpa, knowing my Bohemian background, would always have a new “Bohemie” joke to tell me.  (These were usually variations of Polish jokes.)   I also remember his big bear hugs when he would almost lift me off the ground!  He and Grammie always made me feel welcome from the first time I visited their home with Gayle.

  1. Jo Rummelhart Madison, Wi

Becky,

I have so many memories of your dad and mom at Pinehurst.  The wink in

Docs eye, when he would walk thru the door in his work clothes, and as

all us girls what we were up to.sitting at the round table  in the

kitchen playing cards………how he would just be “supervising” a

bit, when we were arriving for one of the famous lang “barn”

slumberparties…likely having helped with the preparations, and

wondering if we would hurt .ourselves on a swing rope or jumping the

hay bales.  But most of all, I remember the time when Doc let me

“ride” with him on his calls.  Becky and I both went, and I don’t know

if Doc planned a “special” outing for us two or not, but I remember

arriving at a farm…and looking at a pen full of large…too

mature…hogs that needed castrating.  Well, Bec and I got in there

and did all we could….and I could see Doc smiling between tackling

the hogs.  This was followed by the much remembered exam on a

horse…we looked at the leg…and then the well know VET GLOVE came

out!  ah…I enjoyed that day and my experience will Doc.  I also am

proud that Becky “grew up” to become a vet herself….and follow in

her dads footsteps.  I always loved having Doc and Elsie in the house

during those many hours I spent there. They were both a “second set”

of parents to me.

Jokes and Fun

  1. Allen was remembered for one of his practical jokes while living in the schoolhouse, and Elsie was a collaborator on this one also.  Allen and Elsie’s sister-in-law Lee Mehlhop had come to Iowa City to have an embedded wisdom tooth extracted.  She remembers:

During the night I of course was sleeping on the davenport because I was to have a lot of pain later in the evening.  I tried to fall asleep, when the blankets kept coming off of me and I would pull them on again.  Would you believe your dad and mother were in the bedroom next door?  Allen had a string on my blanket and kept pulling them off.  Finally I got up and was going to see what was doing this.  Of course your dad was all set up for this!  They had a draw curtain between the living room and their bedroom, and when I went through the curtain he had all kinds of boxes and various big items, and, or course, I fell over the whole thing and your mother and dad really chuckled—as they figured I would have to investigate this mysterious moving blanket.

  1. Bob Womer recalls when Allen, Elsie, Marie (Elsie’s sister), Gayle, and Tania moved in with them while the schoolhouse was being readied:

When you people and Marie lived with us while they were fixing up the schoolhouse we had so many good times.  One time we think about was when we all had the flu.  Bob and Elsie were real sick.  They seemed to meet each other to and from the bathroom.  Your Dad brought home a gallon jug of Pepto Bismol from the office to get us all over the flu.

  1. Allen has always been an active “checker” and “tester” of things.  The unbreakable electric skillet he jumped on did not pass the test, and he had some difficulty at Bob and Ruth Frees’s farm one fall:

Every fall when we chopped silage Dr. Lang would have to drive over it with his car to make sure we had it packed good enough (just for the fun of it).  That’s what he said.  But one time he got stuck and we had to pull him out with the tractor.

  1. Lee Becker

“How about the time you had a room full of guests and George and I were in the vicinity.  We were all sitting around when you decided to pass the candy and nuts; when it came to me you said “Oh wait, I will get another sack of candy” – then when I reached in to get a piece of candy from the new sack, a sparrow flew out and scared the hell out of me.  Of course everybody really laughed.”

  1. William Gay, DVM

I’ve heard Doc’s sayings since I was fifteen years old:

Farmer:  “How are ya, Doc?”            Doc:   “Sober.”

Regarding a treatment:   “It cures onions, bunions, corns, fits, freckles and farts.”

Regarding administration of the treatment:   “Now give this at three in the morning.”

Regarding Doc in a hurry:   “I’m off like a herd of turtles with a north wind heading south going upstream.”

Regarding Phil-Lu birds (and cold weather):

Farmer:               “It’s damn cold.”            Doc:   “Cold enough to see Phil-Lu birds.”

Farmer:                  “What the hell are those?”

Doc:    “You only see these birds when it’s -10° or -20° out because they eat black pepper.  They come in all sizes and shapes and colors and they fly backwards so they’re rear ends don’t burn.  If they’re out warmer than -10° they just blow up.”

Vet

  1. Doc Lang always did a lot of large animal work and he always made house calls.  He would put 80 – 90,000 miles every year on his car, a four-door sedan with the back seat removed to make space for medicines and equipment.  Every year he drove to Vinton and traded his car in on a new one.  Seems that one year the country road and Doc’s speed had been too much for the car.  He drove into Vinton, crossed the railroad tracks, and the rear end fell off right there on the street.
  1. From a poem by Lil Dean:

Now, about Allen

OUR good friend, friend of animals, friend of young people.  He has a way with animals.  He knows how to treat them.  He talks to them. He cares, and the animals know it.  He thrives on young people, has been helping them all his life.  Time and again we read of various honors he has received.  Then, we might read where he was picked up for speeding.  He gives advice, too, now and then, such as, “Tie cotton balls on screen doors to keep flies away” or “Never paper train your dog, because just about the time the paper is on the floor and in use you’ll want to read it, and that’s no way to read a newspaper!”

  1. From 50th Anniversary: performed by grandchildren, “Talk to the Animals:”

Our grampa talks to the animals, just imagine it, crooning to a cow in bovinese,

Imagine talking to a Tom cat, pleading with a porker, what a neat achievement you can see.

Since he can talk to the animals, learned their languages, even took an animal degree,

He studied Simmental and angus, basset hound and beagle, cocker spaniel, Hereford, pig and flea.

He can converse in limousine and duroc, and he can cuss in fluent cockatoo.

If people ask him “Can you speak ramitis?” he says “Damnrightis!  Can’t you?”

And he confers with our furry friends, man to animal, think of the amazing repartée.

A man who walks with the animals, talks with the animals, grunts and squeaks and squawks with the animals, and he can talk all day.

And he consults with the quadrupeds, think what fun he has, taking little critters on his knee,

He calls them Ewe, Brute, and Suzy, Ichabod or Mitzi, what a lovely Heinz Variety.

Oh he can chew with the ruminants, the advantages any fool on earth can plainly see.

He jokes of backwards filaloobirds, oh and then “Have you heards?” that’ll be a sure laugh, you’ll

agree.

He’s learned to speak in St. Bernard and daschund, his Pekinese, it is extremely good.

If he were asked to sing in weimeronerous, he’d say, “Why noterous?” and would!

If he could parley with pigilets, it’s a story tale, worthy of James Herriott, the vet,

A man who walks with the animals, talks with the animals, grunts and squeaks and squawks with the animals, he sure can talk you bet.

He’s studied ev’ry living creature’s language, so he can speak to all of them on sight.

If friends say, “Can he talk in sheep or lambican?” we say, “Like helican!”  And we are right!

And if you just stop and think a bit, there’s no doubt of it, Doc has won a place in history, and he can walk with the animals, talk with the animals, grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals and they can squeak and squawk and talk to our grampa.

  1. Gary Moss

“When Doc was called out to our dairy farm, it was for a serious purpose.  But I don’t remember much of the seriousness.  I remember the humor.

Invariably, an animal would need an injection of some kind.  And the same syringe that was used to administer the shot was called upon to strike fear, terror, and uncontrollable giggles and squeals from any youngster in the vicinity as Doc would pursue the helpless kid with what seemed like a four-inch needle.  Of course, the adrenaline that was pumped because of that needle made escape a certainty.  But there sure were some tense moments as we frantically searched for the nearest exit.

This was a time when little girls wore plastic headbands to keep their hair in place.  After the syringe has been safely put away and the scattered little masses had ventured back from their various sanctuaries, Doc would decide that he needed a headband for his hair.  Whichever little Moss girl was within reach first would find that she was suddenly headband-less.  After much pleading, threatening, and demanding, the headband would be returned none the worse for wear of course, but with a little girl vowing that she would never let that happen again.  And, of course, it would happen again.  Well, this happened so many times that Becky and Rachel decided to teach Doc a lesson.  So they went out a bought him his own headbands.”

  1. Tom Wall

“When I was about 7 years old Dad and Larry had all the sows tested for rhinis(sp?).  The tests had to be done once a week for about 6 weeks.  The tests  were always done on Wednesday at 7:00 am.  On the second week I woke up late and grabbed a banana and headed for the barn.  Doc had already arrived and was setting up for the tests.  He saw me finishing my banana and wanted to know where his was.  When I told him I didn’t have any more he ribbed me all that day and all of the next week.  So, in order to maintain my mental health, I slipped a banana into a sack and took it with me one morning.  Doc saw me that morning and asked where his banana was and told me what a terrible thing it was to have a hungry vet.  So I reached into my sack and handed him the banana.  I must have satisfied his need for potassium because I never heard another word about that banana.”

  1. Bob and Dorothy Russell

“An Ode to Good Friends”

Through the darkness and the light,

Through thick or thin,

Doc and Elsie were always there to help.

“A Liberal Interpretation of the Above Comes Out”

Through the night and the day,

Through constipation or diarrhea, and all in between,

We’ll get that critter back on its feet and feed!

Elsie somehow always got Doc to the trouble spot,

Before or after dark!

And we could count on his bedside manner

To pull us through this crisis.

We knew all was well, when Doc would say,

Well, “Flute-Ma-Gout” that ought to do it.

  1. Jeannie Edwards

This year we returned to those thrilling days of yesteryear.

A day with Uncle Dick and Doc,

And for that day it seemed as though I had turned back the clock.

We tried our hands at several things, to help the best we could,

But covering ourselves in mud is what we did really good.

The lunch that served to us rated as big wow,

But I still missed our daily stop and the good old “Purple Cow.”

  1. Bob and Helen Long

“One thing for sure, Doc Lang will never be forgotten around this country.  When Lower Muscatine Road was a gravel road we were used to seeing him fly by.  Some days he made the dust fly coming down our lane for a few hours of work and camaraderie.  By the one incident that really stands out in my mind was the Sunday A.M. that I went with him on a call west of Cosgrove to take care of some cattle that had shipping fever.  The cows were scattered out in a field full of ruts and baled hay.  No way to catch those suckers, so Doc decided he would ride on the hood of the car and rope them while I drove.  Well, between the ruts and the bales I nearly lost him several times, so I decided he better get in the car before he fell off and I ran over him.  I think he never let Elsie know about all of his antics, or she would have been worried all the time.”

  1. Danette Riley

“After marrying Mike Lehman, I was lucky to see Dr. Lang more often as he came out to the farm to work on the cattle.  “Whoa Darlin” was his favorite expression, much to the chagrin of the Lehman boys as a cow would kick or break down a gate!

Mike’s favorite story is one Doc tells on himself.  Dr. Lang showed up on an early morning call and found the farmers were just sitting around with no gates or corrals in place to work the cattle.  When Dr. Lang asked why they weren’t ready, they replied that they figured they might as well wait for his instructions and do it right the first time!”

  1. Betty Sedlacek

“Another anecdote on Allen was everybody knows what and early riser Doc was.  Our neighbor Ralph Wescott was having Doc come out to do some vet thing for him at 7:00.  Well, Doc slipped out there probably anytime after 6 and Ralph waited and waited watching for Doc at 7.  He thought it was funny he was late.  Well, upon calling in to inquire where Doc was, he was told “Good Lord I was there hours ago.”  Ralph Wescott used to laugh til tears ran down his cheeks.  How Doc tricked him.

One particular night years back, when Don was living, we had Doc out about 10 or so for a sow who couldn’t pig, then on [watching the heat lamps on the sow????] much later saw a ewe having trouble lambing, so had to call Doc back again about 4.  Well when he delivered the lambs he drug a bale of hay over and commenced to lay down.  “I’ll just finish the night sleeping here in case you need me again,” he told us.

One time when the boys were having a friendly fight throwing cobs at each other, Doc joined right in with them.  Ever after that the minute Doc drove in he ran and grabbed a handful of cobs and said “Let’s fight boys!”  My boys never lived that down.

  1. Beth Duffy

In the world of 4-H we know

There is a vet named Doc Lang

and during each summer fair show

the cries for help loudly rang.

Come quick, John’s horse is bloated,

Tom’s sheep just swallowed a rope,

Mary’s rabbits eyes are coated,

Bill’s heifer ate orvis soap.

Doc Lang came along quick

And cured the ills of pets

No need to fear being sick

Because Doc’s our 4-H fair vet.

Others/Mixed

  1. George Schultz, basketball coach at Remsen High:

And, there was your Dad.  He was a “real storm” on the basketball court.  No one, and I mean no one was beyond his challenge.  He could be categorized as a human tornado type—very aggressive.  He was a guard who frequently drew the assignment of harassing the best of our opposing players.  He helped our young team establish enviable records for Ol’ Remsen High.  However, of more importance was his ability as a student.  He was a good one!

  1. Susan Lee

We would have to get up in the morning to chore or help with whatever needed to be done around the house on the weekends when Daddy was home, in spite of what time we had retired the night before.  There was no sleeping in if there was work to be done!   I remember the night after I had attended the high prom and then the party after the party, so I went to bed about 6:00 AM.  I think it was about an hour later when Daddy was waking me up to go to the attic at Pinehurst to place buckets, as the rain was leaking through the roof of the house.

Punctuality, especially when it concerned getting home to a meal that Mother had prepared, was important to Daddy.  When I would ride with him on calls and the business was finished, he would stand around and talk to the farmers.  After awhile he would say  “Gotta go; Elsie will have dinner ready”, and we were off.   In his years at the care center, it was important to him that the nursing assistants responded to his call light in a timely manner.  If they told him they would “be right back”, they had better have been right back, or he was not happy!

Daddy was always counting:  the number of weeds he had pulled; the number of nails he had hammered; the number of steps between TLG and Mother’s room at the SNCC, etc.

Whenever he would sneeze, he would say “horse manure”.  He always denied it, but that’s what he said!

When we lived on Brown Street, he brought home a skunk that had a back leg partially amputated by a piece of farm equipment.  He descented the animal, and it became our pet, “Stinky”.  We took Stinky to school on a number of occasions.  Don’t remember how long we had him.

Two of his favorite sayings:  Self praise stinks.

A job half done is no job at all.

  1. Kelvin Lee

Being pulled behind his tractor on my sled when there was snow on the field behind Prairie Edge.

Wiffle ball! I think Grandpa pitched to me from the time I was 5 until they left Prairie Edge. Every time I mowed their lawn we would play afterward. I never had to go get the ball, had would pitch, go get the ball and pitch it to me again time after time.

Fishing is what I remeber most, both at Rericks (spelling?) Goffs (spelling?) and the pond behind the small cabin on Newport road. It seems like we went once or twice a month. We would stop for a pop afterward as well. I think he even took me fishing a couple of times when he shouldn’t have been driving with his vision. There were some scary trips down I-80.

Grandpa’s sayings:

You betcha
Well hello there
Now we’re cookin’ with gas!

  1. Eric Boyd

Being the youngest of the grandchildren and growing up in the Northwest, I never really got to know Grandpa in his daily routine.  But as I was growing up, I remember proudly thinking of my Grandpa as a good fisherman.  Whenever we visited Iowa, he would take me out fishing to a farm pond, where he was always able to direct me to a few monster bass. This was my gateway for getting to know Grandpa, spending time talking and learning from him as we fished.  Our shared passion of fishing made it easy to connect with him on outings that I’m sure we both enjoyed.

  1. Jamie Lang

Grandpa had a way of being very practical about things – for instance he always drove a sedan around as a vet, despite that fact that many others had four wheel drive trucks.  On many occasions he would take us (Sam and I) fishing (with us in the front seat of course as the back was floor to ceiling high with veterinary paraphernalia) and drive right through fields with the sedan.  We never got stuck, even when it was muddy, although he did have to “rock” the car a few times.

We had a running commentary for years when he would visit Ames about the size of my herd of cattle (fictious of course).  As I got older I would spin tales of what was happening with the herd and he would go right along and help me embellish.

Like the other grandchildren I remember fishing at the many ponds we used to go to.  We always stopped at a gas station before or after to “wet our whistle” with a soda, and always had a good time.

Grandpa would also, on occasion, come play with Sam and I in the barn, where we would make forts out of hay bales and fling ourselves across the barn on the rope swing.  The player piano and basketball were also favorite barn activities.

In Canada Grandpa was always on “hat patrol.”   After a day or two for the newbies getting used to it, all he would have to do is give you “the look” and you would instantly remove your hat at the dinner table.

Grandpa was the master of sugary treats – even my dad had to hide snacks from him when fishing (and that’s saying something!)  He once put raw sugar on Fruity Pebbles.

  1. Rachael Burger:

The summer I lived in Iowa with my two sets of Grandparents I stayed it the lower level room at Prairie’s Edge and had an office in Grandma’s sewing room. I had a few jobs and Grandpa was always eager to get me up at 6:00. Grandma, who was sympathetic to my case, made him stop. I remember that at that time (1990) they spent a lot of time watching birds out of the picture window in the house that Stephen Lee helped build. Humming birds in particular. And cardinals. Grandpa would be out most of the morning in a brown work suit and boots and would come in sweaty. He had two calves that he raised and shipped off at the end of the summer to Gay’s meat locker.

. . .

I remember my mother, Tania, telling a story about how the morning after prom Grandpa dumped a bucket of water on her head to wake her up. I guess something changes between the generations. The summer I lived with Grandpa and Grandma in Iowa, I remember one Sunday morning when I sitting on the porch nursing a bottle of water after a rare night out (I was not yet 21). Grandpa came by and commented on my bottle (to let me know that he knew my situation) then smiled and walked off.

. . .

Grandma and Grandpa came out to Boston for our wedding in 1999. We had special meals done for them so they wouldn’t have to cope with the Indian food. During the long interlude between the end of the service and the time that the food arrive (very late), I noticed that Grandpa had Kate Fenner (the rock-singer girlfriend of my ex-boyfriend Richard) sitting on his lap.

. . .

My mother used to always give Grandpa projects when he was visiting us in Boston. She figured he’d be happier with a project than sitting around socializing. The year of my high school graduation this project involved staining and finishing a sideboard with my Grandpa Burger. Apparently they did a good job.

. . .

The summer I lived with Grandpa and Grandma, I left a world map poster behind. Grandpa gave it back to me and when he found it sitting, partly creased, on the car seat next to me he got very upset that I hadn’t cared for it properly. When I was working on his service, there were piles of Mohan projects in the office. I felt like I had to pick them up before I could get to going on Grandpa’s work.

. . .

On a visit just after our wedding, Grandpa had Hitesh riding around on the riding mower. He (Hitesh) was thrilled. Caught his t-shirt on a tree branch and tore it — almost pulled his arm off, but he didn’t care.

. . .

That same visit, Grandpa told Hitesh how he would finish up his chores quickly on Sunday mornings so that he could go see Elsie after church. People would say, “Allen, are you all done?” and he’d say “Yup.” But he didn’t praise his own speed because he mother always told him “self praise stinks.”

. . .

Grandpa always remembered everything that was going on in our lives. He would ask me, year after year, “When are you going to make a board with all the houses you’ve sold?”

. . .

Grandpa was a tough guy. Until the last few years, and even when he didn’t seem to be too steady, he would insist on carrying heavy suitcases into the house when we came to visit.

  1. Richard Harris

As you know I was a big, big fan of his–there was always a shine of

mischief and knowing in his face, and he had some stoic resolve that

made the world very clear somehow.  I also thought he was very

handsome.  You once wrote me a letter about him getting two cows to

slowly come home.  And about the tall corn he planted at the edges

of his fields… just for show.   I thought of him when I tried to

grow corn on my fire escape in manhattan.  I know he will be missed

sorely.

  1. Vernon and Billie Brogla

Dr. Lang was and is a special friend as well as a top vet.  He always pregnancy checked our cows and would come up with “I think she is 6 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, and 2 hours pregnant – could have twins.”  We always had a good laugh over this.

  1. Hitesh Hathi

I send you all the love, affection, and comfort I can muster, though I loved your wonderful father myself and so find myself holding on, quite selfishly, to just a bit of that comfort.  It is hard to think of Iowa without him, his rich stories of childhood and favourite past-times like hunting, his ardent memories of wooing your mother, which I felt quite honoured to have heard from his own lips, and his jokes, with their naive and simultaneously naughty spirit.

The following is from the Lensing Funeral Website:

Doc Lang, veterinarian, farmer, fisherman, and family man, passed on last Sunday, May 17 in Solon, Iowa. Allen resided at the Solon Care Center with his wife of 66 years, Elsie Mehlhop Lang. Allen was 88 years old at his death.

Allen was born to Charles and Martha Lang on June 21, 1920 and grew up with his two sisters Phyllis and Vione on the family farm in Remsen, located in northwest Iowa. At Remsen High School Allen met his future wife Elsie. Allen and Elsie both attended Iowa State University, where Allen received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1944.

Allen and Elsie were married in Ames in 1943. They moved to Iowa City in 1944, where Allen joined an existing veterinary practice. Gradually he practiced on his own and then was joined by Dr. J. R. Kennedy and other partners to become Veterinary Associates, treating both large and small animals in Johnson County. Allen served as a meat inspector for the United States Army and achieved the rank of Captain prior to his discharge in 1955. Allen retired from veterinary practice in 1994, after 50 years of service.

Allen and Elsie raised five children, first in Iowa City itself and then on a small farm north of the city. All the children learned the ropes of animal care and gardening as they worked along side their dad on “calls” in the country, putting in and weeding gardens, and feeding and showing (mostly) Red Angus and yellow labs. Allen took his family along on hunting and fishing trips and outings, a tradition that continued into the last year of his life.

Each summer Doc Lang looked forward to the Johnson County 4-H Fair, where he was the official veterinarian for more than 30 years. In 1968 he was named Johnson County Agribusinessman of the Year. Allen was also honored as Johnson County Cattleman of the Year and Honorary 4-H member of Johnson County. In addition to his work with animals, Allen enjoyed woodworking in his shop. He crafted many beautiful toys and games for children and grandchildren. He and Elsie also created a number of braided rugs, which are currently gracing the homes of children and grandchildren in various locations throughout the country.

Doc Lang taught all of those around him how to work: hard, efficiently, and smart. He was demanding of others and equally demanding of himself. A man of conviction and plain talk, he also loved to tease and never passed up the opportunity to tell a joke.

Allen’s wife Elsie and all five of their children are living: Allen G. Lang (married to Joy Engel) in Ames, Tania Lang Burger in Massachusetts, Susan Lee (married to Stephen) in Solon, Rebecca Lang-Boyd (married to Tom) in Washington State, and Julie Lang in Vermont. Eleven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren make up the rest of the immediate Lang family.

The Lang family is planning a memorial celebration later in June. Memorial donations in Doc Lang’s name may be made to the Johnson County 4-H Endowment Fund.

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Posted at: 6/18/2009 6:53:50 PM
By: Genie Kennedy
Dr. Lang was a very patient and amiable person. When I was young I always enjoyed “helping him” by holding the animals, even the cats, at Winds Reach Farm. He had a great touch and understanding of both people and animals. May happy memories help you at this time. With Sympathy, Genie

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Posted at: 6/5/2009 3:28:23 PM
By: Molly Meade McAdams
To the Lang Family:
I’m sorry to hear of Doc’s passing. He was a delight to be with and work around. I interned with Doc one summer and I learned a tremendous amount from him. This was back in the mid 80’s, but we’ve kept in touch over the years through Joyce Rarick. I will miss the updates on how he’s doing. He was an amazing man. Best regards, Molly Meade McAdams

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Posted at: 5/30/2009 8:21:45 AM
By: Nancy (Hubel) Davin
Julie and family,

I’m sorry for your loss. Doc Lang is a legend in Johnson County. I never knew him but heard a lot of great things about him. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.

Nancy


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Posted at: 5/22/2009 6:20:51 AM
By: Alan Pfab
Julie and family, I want to give my condolences, my thoughts and prayers are with you and you family.

Apfab@avalon.net


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Posted at: 5/21/2009 11:28:09 AM
By: Rhonda L. Lacina
Julie and Family,
Your dad was a real treasure. I always looke forward to seeing him at the Johnson County fair every year. I had such good memories of being out on your farm as young girls, and your dad always having a little teasing with all of us. He will be greatly missed. My condonlences to all of your family.

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Posted at: 5/20/2009 10:38:38 PM
By: BETTY SEDLACEK AND SONS
WE HAVE SO MANY GOOD MEMORIES OF YOUR DAD HARD TO SINGLEOUT A FEW, YES HE DELIGHTED IN TRYING TO SNEAK IN HE AND BLUE BEFORE YOU WERE READY FOR HIM, THEN HE NEVR FAILED TO TELLME NOW THIS ANIMAL WILL NEED HIS PILLS AT 3 N MORNING YOU KNOW, OH YES HE ALWSYS PICKD UP A CORN COB FROM THE YARD AND KIDDED MY BOYS LETS HAVE A CORN COB FIGHT. THERE WILL NEVR BE ANOTHER VET LIKE DOC LANG FOR THE SEDLACEKS. ELSIE AND DOC WERE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS FOR TO SHORT YEARS. BETTY AND BOYS

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Posted at: 5/20/2009 3:24:56 PM
By: Jill Petsel Schoer
Julie and Family,
I hope the wonderful memory of your father gives you strength during this difficult time. He was a wonderful man and a fixture at the Johnson County Fair when I was a young 4-Her. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Jill Petsel Schoer — a former Scott Lassie


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Posted at: 5/20/2009 1:38:23 PM
By: Bonnie Lass
I worked at Solon Nursing Care Center and knew both Doc and Elsie. I will keep the Lang family in my prayers. Doc was a great man.

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Posted at: 5/20/2009 1:30:17 PM
By: Sophia Bracy Harris
Tania and the Lang family,

I am thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers. The impact of your father’s life has been felt here in Alabama through the work and gifts of you (Tania) and Alex. God bless and comfort you at this time of sadness.


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Posted at: 5/20/2009 11:51:07 AM
By: Rosemary Paul
My dad had a business on Market Street and I first met Dr. Lang when as a child my dad took me over to his office across the street west of John’s Grocery. There he let me feed a baby lamb from a bottle and I never forgot that. Later, when my husband & I farmed, we had many visits from Doc Lang and blue. I’d say Doc Lang is definitely an Iowa city legend!

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Posted at: 5/20/2009 11:29:59 AM
By: a.j. walter
Julie and family…
Just read of Doc’s death. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Julie…13 yrs… Chris keeps me posted. Special thoughts to all… aj

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Posted at: 5/20/2009 11:14:29 AM
By: Kathy and Dick Villhauer
Susan and family….So very sorry to hear of your loss. I didn’t know your Dad personally but have heard many great stories from others that did. Sounds like he was a great man. You are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

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Posted at: 5/20/2009 11:00:36 AM
By: Leona Buchmayer
You have my sympathy, he was a wonderful man. Just a memory of Doc driving in our driveway and tooting the car horn at 5:00 AM, ready to do pigs. How he delighted in catching Karl still in bed.Blue was with him and read to go. A big thank-you to a man who gave so much to the Johnson county fair, for being Newport Rangers 4-H leader, our childrens lives are so much richer for his leadership.
God Bless

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Posted at: 5/20/2009 10:20:27 AM
By: Mary Thoman Cross
Julie and the Lang family -

I am sorry to learn of your husband/father’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.


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Posted at: 5/20/2009 9:24:40 AM
By: Chrissy Boecker
I worked at SNCC and knew your father. I was saddened to see of your loss. He is a great man and I know you guys are proud of him and your mom. It was a pleasure to talk with you when you visited. Doc will be greatly missed. He lived every day with a smile on his face and he was a joy to talk to. He still gave advice on animal questions when anyone asked him! My deepest sympathy to your family – God added a great man.

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Posted at: 5/20/2009 8:17:17 AM
By: Ron and Marti Hendricks
Susan, Steve and families,
Your families have our sincere sympathy. At the Solon Nursing Care Center, Doc Lang was a joyful person to visit with, and always had a smile on his face. God bless you and your families.

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Posted at: 5/19/2009 12:55:22 PM
By: steve vorheis
Susan,
I was very sorry to hear of your father’s passing. My thoughts are with you and your family. svorheis@mchsi.com

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Posted at: 5/19/2009 12:23:35 PM
By: Leanne Keeling Horner
Tania, I was sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. Please now that you and yours are in my thoughts and prayers. Peace be with you.

Leanne


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Posted at: 5/19/2009 12:22:57 AM
By: Krista Poulsen- Frandsen
Julie- I am very sorry for your loss. My thought and prayers to you, and your family.
Thinking of you-
Krista

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Posted at: 5/19/2009 12:08:43 AM
By: Scott McQuillen
Julie,
I am very sorry about your father. I am sending my condolences to you and your family from far across the years and miles. It’s been nice to reconnect as we recently have. Again my deepest sympathy.
Take care,
Scott

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Posted at: 5/18/2009 9:15:55 PM
By: Brenda Erichsen Haag
Allen and Elsie became my college family when I came to school at Uof I. My dad was Elsie’s cousin. I can still remember visiting with your family when you traveled to Remsen. I will remember Allen with fond memories…playing cards and dominos. My thoughts are with your family. Brenda

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Posted at: 5/18/2009 4:47:34 PM
By: Mary Hoy
I am saddened to learn of Dr. Lang’s passing. He was our vet for many years when we lived on North Dubugue Road and raised sheep. Julie was our baby sitter for almost 8 years..we follwed her to Story City when she started at ISU. Elsie and I attened classes on making longerie so many years ago. The Lang’s are a very special family. I send our love and sympathy. maryhoy@kc.rr.com



Uncategorized admin | 04 May 2009

Scrumptious Macaroons (eggless and super-easy)

We get some fantastic-tasting unsweetened grated dried coconut at Whole Foods in bulk and this inspired me to make some macaroons. They came out beautifully.

3 1/2 cups unsweetenedd grated dried coconut
1 teaspoons vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz.) (I like Trader Joe’s organic)
1 heaping tablespoon white flour

Mix the dry ingredients and then add in the wet ingredients. Mix thoroughly and then shape into balls about 1 inch in diameter. Place balls on a baking sheet on parchament paper and bake for about 20 – 25 minutes until golden brown at 325 degrees. Keep in refrigerator for several days after making. Most delicious eaten fresh and at room temperature.

Uncategorized admin | 20 Jan 2009

Praise Song for the Day — Inaugural Poem by Elizabeth Alexander

[just got this transcript from the new york times website, but it was more or less without line breaks. I've put in my own. beautiful poem for a very moving day].

Praise song for the day.

Each day we go about our business,
Walking past each other, catching each others’
Eyes or not, about to speak or speaking.
All about us is noise. All about us is noise
And bramble, thorn and din,
Each one of our ancestors on our tongues.

Someone is stitching up a hem, darning
A hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things
In need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere, with
A pair of wooden spoons, on an oil drum, with
Cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer considers the changing sky.
A teacher says: “Take out your pencils. Begin.”

We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth,
Whispered or declaimed. Words to consider, reconsider.
We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will
Of someone and then others who said:
“I need to see what’s on the other side.
I know there’s something better down the road.”

We need to find a place where we are safe.
We walk into that which we cannot yet see.
Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing
The names of the dead who brought us here, who
Laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton
And the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices
They would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day.
Praise song for every hand-lettered sign, the
Figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by “Love thy neighbor as thy self.” Others by
First do no harm, or take no more than you need.
What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond
Marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening
Pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made,
Any sentence begun. On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp.
Praise song for walking forward in that light.

Uncategorized admin | 09 Aug 2007

Beautiful Things

Ginger Leaf Floral (Oakland, CA)
Sigg Stainless Steel Bottles
Stainless Steel Lunchboxes (Tiffins)

Ginger Leaf Floral: Incredibly creative Oakland-based floral designer Ellen Kim.

Sigg Stainless Steel Bottles

Light weight metal water bottles by Sigg Switzerland. Come in all sorts of colors and sizes w/ standard size tops that can take a stardard screw-on or a “sports” lid (good for kids, like a sippy cup). Great for carrying water/juice around and doesn’t taste like plastic. Very beautiful as well. The Swiss Knife Shop offers free shipping, and prices seem to be the same everywhere.

Stainless Steel Indian Lunch Box “Tiffins”. Machine-washable. Mohan uses one for his lunch box! These from Angelin Home are from India and now ship directly from New York City.

Uncategorized admin | 28 Apr 2007

Hello!

This site contains Rachael’s explorations of a variety of topics, from renovation and green building to recipes to parenting.

Have a great day.