Full Obituary

     JOSEPH M. LANG, age 84, of Thorp, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, September 21, 2017 surrounded by his family.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Thorp.  Rev. Janusz Kowalski will officiate and burial will follow in New St. Hedwig's Catholic Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Thorp American Legion Post #118.  Pallbearers will be:  Raymond Bernick, Michael Bernick, Tyler Mertens, Travis Mertens, Joseph Bernick, Jonathan Bernick, Kevin Kaszubowski and Rodney Enkers.  Visitation will be held at Thorp Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 from 4pm to 8pm, and again at church, on Wednesday, from 9:30am until time of service.
     Joseph Mike Lang was born on February 15, 1933 in the Town of Withee, rural Thorp, to Joseph and Bernice (Konieczny) Lang.  He was raised on the family farm and received his education at Pineland School and Thorp High School.  Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army on June 4, 1953 and completed his basic training at Fort Sheridan, IL.  He served overseas in Germany until his honorable discharge on April 15, 1955  Joe was united in marriage to Shirley F. Vetterkind on September 17, 1955 at St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Thorp.  They moved to Des Plaines, IL where he worked for Teletype, which later became AT&T, until retiring in 1990.  He drove a school bus for the local school district until moving to Thorp in 1996.  After moving to Thorp, Joe drove a school bus for Rosemeyer Bus Service for several years.
     He had many interests, but especially enjoyed gardening, yard work, fishing, and watching the Bears, Cubs and White Sox.
     Joe was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig's Catholic Church, Thorp American Legion Post #118 and was a former member of the Moose Lodge when he lived in Illinois.
     He is survived by the true love of his life, his wife, Shirley, of Thorp;  four children:  Cynthia Lang of Thorp,  Diane (John) Bernick of Des Plaines, IL,  Pamela Mertens (Roger Haufe) of Thorp,  Joseph Lang of Withee;  eight grandchildren:  Raymond (Bonnie) Bernick,  Michelle (Chris) Springborn,  Michael Bernick (Melissa Volpe),  Tracey (Kevin) Kaszubowski,  Travis (Jenelle) Mertens,  Tyler Mertens,  Jonathan Bernick,  Joseph Bernick;  twelve great-grandchildren;  nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
     He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother: George Lang; and three sisters:  Sophie Gutschow, Eleanor Struck and Theresa Beyer.