Harley William Lang

Born on September 6, 1943, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Harley was the son of Lawrence Louis Lang and Frances Irene Lang. He proudly served in the United States Air Force and spent most of his working life as a diesel mechanic before retiring from Gadsden County.

Harley was happiest learning, building, repairing, and figuring out how things worked. His many interests included scuba diving, raising horses and other animals, ham radio, radio-controlled airplanes, solar power, computers, gaming, and rebuilding tractors and motorcycles. He remained an enthusiastic gamer throughout his later years, especially enjoying Fallout, Skyrim, and Borderlands.

He had a gift for bringing things back to life. Neighbors often brought him lawnmowers, tractors, weed eaters, computers, and other broken items, knowing he would do his best to repair them. Harley also rescued discarded items he believed could be useful, rebuilt them, and often gave them to people in need. He especially enjoyed repairing computers for others.

Harley believed in self-reliance and encouraged people to learn practical skills and persevere when faced with difficult problems. He also loved telling stories and had an extraordinary memory for the people he had known. He remembered not only their names, but also their families, occupations, important dates, and the details that made each person unique.

Hardworking, curious, resourceful, and generous with his knowledge, Harley rarely encountered a problem he was unwilling to tackle. He believed useful things should not be wasted and was always ready to help someone else.

Harley is survived by his daughter, Linda Lang Flanigan; his grandson, William Edward Lang (Ashley); his great-grandson, Ethan Michael Lang; his brothers, James Lang (Kathy) and Jerry Lang; his sisters, Nancy Kjelden (Mike) and Deb Briski (Kurt); his sister-in-law, Cynthia Lang; and his extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence Louis Lang and Frances Irene Lang; his brother, Larry Lang; his sister, Yvonne Ennis (Leo); and his sister-in-law, Kathleen Lang.

Memorial service arrangements will be announced at a later date.