Ernstfried J. “Ernie” Lang, 85, of Bartonville, passed away Saturday, June 10, 2017, at his home.
He was born October 24, 1931, in Yokohama, Japan, to German Christian missionaries, Ernst and Dorothea (Bartsch) Lang. Ernie migrated to the United States in 1951. He became a naturalized citizen in 1961, in San Diego, Cali. He married Viola Haner on July 10, 1971, in Robinson, Ill.
Surviving are his wife, Viola Lang of Bartonville; four sons, Ernst (Mi Yong) Lang of North Aurora, Ill., Christopher Lang of Bartonville, Timothy (Megan) Lang of St. Charles, Mo. and Michael (Catherine) Lang of Peoria; six grandchildren, Jacob, Alexa, Barrett, Audrey, and Harrison Lang and Vincent Florendo; one sister, Heidi (David) Brewer of Wheaton, Ill., three brothers, Ehrhardt (Cheryl) Lang of Lompoc, Cali., Martin (Barbara) Lang of San Luis Obispo Cali., and Theodor Lang of Kasai, Japan.
Ernie was preceded in death by one sister, Dorothea in 2017.
Ernie was a minister in 1958 with Evangelical United Brethren Denomination, which in 1968 merged to become the United Methodist Church Denomination, having served in Bloomington, Monmouth, Deland, Melvin, and Macon United Methodist churches; retiring in 1996 from Hanna City and Trivoli United Methodist churches.
After retirement, Ernie attended the Morton United Methodist Church and was a member of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. Ernie was actively involved in many church youth camps. He enjoyed working with HO trains, photography and kayaking.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17, 2017, at Morton United Methodist Church, with Rev. Gary Motta, Rev. Don Ferrill and Rev. Ehrhardt Lang officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 16, and from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday, June 17, both at the church. Burial will be at Hirstein Cemetery in Morton.
Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Morton United Methodist Church building fund or to the Preacher Aid Society in Springfield, IL.