Walter Lage

Walter Henry, son of Herman and Laura (Mohr) Lage, was born July 3, 1926 on his parents' farm in Iowa Township, Crawford County, Iowa. The next month on August 22, he was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning by Rev. J. M. Ansorge. Walt attended rural school Iowa Township #1 though the eighth grade and then graduated from Manning High School in 1943. Walt earned a spot in the ten top readers in Crawford County while in eighth grade. Following his schooling, Walt worked with his father on the farm and also worked as a hired hand. Walt loved to participate and watch all sporting events. He played first base on a fast pitch softball team and even continued after his marriage. In the years after graduation, when cars were not too available for young men to drive, he and friends would ride the train to and from Irwin and Harlan to watch basketball and football games. On February 26, 1950 Walt was united in marriage with Ardith David at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. The couple continued to farm and were the parents of two boys. Walt also sold Hy-Line chicks and ran the M & I hay choppers. He was the Crawford County assessor for Iowa Township and Aspinwall. In 1967 he started the Iowa Township Community Chest Drive. Walt worked for over 20 years as a substitute and full time rural mail carrier on Manning Rural Route #1. While serving as a mail carrier, Walt and Ardith attended district, state and national conventions, including Orlando, Buffalo, Little Rock and St. Paul. Walt was a life time member of Zion Lutheran Church. As a youth he was a member of Walther League, a young people's group. He continued to be active in his church activities, holding many church offices at local, zone and district levels. He was a charter member of the Lutheran Layman's League and was fortunate to attend national conventions in San Francisco, Denver, Lincoln, Miami in the U. S. and Calgary, Vancouver and Niagara Falls in Canada. After his retirement, Walt and Ardith enjoyed many First National Bank trips. In 2003, they moved into Manning after their farm sale in May. While living in town, Walt enjoyed volunteering, especially at those activities where he didn't need to do much walking, such as working on mailings for the school paper, hospital newsletter and church publications. He thoroughly enjoyed the Hausbarn Gift Shop where he could speak German to visitors. Walt was able to remain at home as his health continued to decline. He suffered a broken hip and ended up at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs where he died on Sunday, April 18, 2010, at the age of 83 years, 9 months and 15 days. Preceding him in death are his parents and brother Wesley Lage. He is survived by his wife Ardith Lage of Manning; two sons Lance Lage and wife Jo Ellen of Atlantic and Brian Lage and wife Kathy of Manning; three grandchildren Ashley Lage, Eric Lage and Faye (Lage) and husband Cole Dreyer; sister-in-law Audrey Lage of Waverly; brother-in-law Lyle David and wife Coleen of Carroll and sister-in-law Carlene and husband John Deist of Audubon; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Officiating Pastor Ben Dose Music "Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty" "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" "Hark the Voice of Jesus Crying" Congregation "Amazing Grace" Recording by Granddaughter Faye Ellen Dreyer Carlys Stribe, Accompanist Casketbearers Dale Pfannkuch Donald Phannkuch Duane Monson Lynn Phillips Russ Mohr Russ Ranniger Dave Schroeder Duane Karsten Honorary Casketbearers John Van Zee Roland Hansen Dale Deeth Roger Nissen Godsons Douglas Iddings Dan Schroeder Joel David Scott Lage Interment Manning Cemetery, Manning, Iowa