Mary Jo Lang passed away at home, surrounded by love, on December 20, 2021 and is deeply missed. A service livestream will be available at this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDgSgYh_TDhjaMhU4y7_ToA
Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N. 4th St., Bismarck.
Interment to follow at North Dakota Veteran Cemetery, Mandan.
Mary Jo Gausemel was born March 7, 1939 in Bowman, ND and married Erwin Lang of Tappen June 29, 1961 in Tacoma, WA where he was serving in the United States Air Force. They were married nearly 61 years and lived in Florida, Montana and Colorado where their children Audrey and Michael were raised. Mary Jo and Erwin returned to their home state of North Dakota in 2004 for his retirement and have lived in Bismarck since then.
A devoted teacher and lifelong learner, Mary Jo taught elementary school for 43 years and earned degrees from Jamestown College and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Widefield, CO where she served on the church council, led and participated in Circle, prayer chain and bible study, and taught Sunday School and summer bible school for many years. A creative artist, Mary Jo created many beautiful works of art through drawing, painting, sewing and quilting.
Mary Jo is survived by many family members across the country, including: her husband Erwin Lang (Bismarck); daughter, Audrey Lang and daughter-in-law, Dr. Mari Jo Pesch (San Diego); sisters, Sylvia Borchert (Fargo), Lorrie Greenwood (Jamestown), Karen Connolly and brother-in-law, Gary Connolly (Minneapolis); brother, Lee Gausemel (Phoenix); brother-in-law, Mel Lang and sister-in-law Sherleen Lang (Bismarck); granddaughters, Carol Jo Lang (Mandan), Amber Kelso (Colorado Springs) along with many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members who were very important to her.
Her family wishes to thank the numerous friends, neighbors and home health and hospice teams who supported Mary Jo and her family during the past several years. Together, their admirable work as a team made it possible for Mary Jo to remain at home through all of her years living with MS. Special thanks to Kim Dronen, Leona Kuhn and Leeann Sabanash for their dedication and hard work.
Mary Jo is preceded in death by her parents, Hattie (Norem) and Selmer Gausemel; Erwin’s parents, Katie (Stroh) and Jake Lang; son, Michael Lang; brothers-in-law, Darold Lang, Don Greenwood and Jim Borchert, and sister-in-law, Gladys (Stavang) Gausemel.
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