Carolyn Lange ’54 VanderWoude

Carolyn Lange ’54 VanderWoude of Albert Lea, Minnesota, died Saturday, October 8, 2016 at the ThorneCrest Retirement Center in Albert Lea. She was 86 years of age.

Carolyn was born November 27, 1929 in Pipestone, MN, the daughter of Walter and Cecelia (Meyer) Lange. She graduated from Pipestone High School in 1948, attended Hamline University, the University of Utah, and received her BA in music from Hope College in Holland, MI. In 1987 she received her Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Mankato.

She was united in marriage to M. Paul VanderWoude on July 23, 1953 in Pipestone, MN. Together they made their home in Pipestone, MN, Holland, MI, Lynden, WA, Vancouver, BC, Springfield, SD, Hull, IA, Hollandale, MN, Tofte, MN, and Albert Lea, MN.

Carolyn had been employed as a special education teacher in District #241 from 1979 retiring in 1992. She taught kindergarten and elementary music in Holland, MI, special education in Boydon-Hull, IA, and taught at the Hope Haven School for the Handicapped.

She taught private piano, voice and organ for many years. Carolyn was a member of the Washington Music Teachers, South Dakota Music Teachers Association, AAUW, ALAREAM, Albert Lea Lions Club and the Albert Lea Cantori. She loved music and played in the Hope College Orchestra, sang in the Hamline A Capella Choir, Hamline singers, Hope College Chapel Choir, various community choirs, played for many ACT productions, Director of several church choirs, originated the children’s choir “Choristers” in Hollandale, MN, and was director of music and fine arts in the Albert Lea United Methodist Church. She had been a member of the Evangelical United Brethren prior to her marriage and the Reformed Church in America where she shared her husband’s ministry. In Albert Lea she was a member of the United Methodist Church.

Carolyn is survived by her children Jon (Cindy) VanderWoude of Monroe, WA, Joel (John Frakes) VanderWoude of Palm Springs, CA, Peter (June) VanderWoude of Matthews, NC, and Cathleen Sweetland of Flint, MI. There is one grandchild; Sara VanderWoude and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband M. Paul VanderWoude ’52, infant son Mark, grandson Jeremy and brother Robert Lange.

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