Vernon William Prange, 85, of Seymour, passed away, Sunday December 25, 2022 at his home. He was born November 30, 1937 in Steeleville, Illinois, to Raymond and Clara Behrens Prange. He married Joyce Ann Myers Kriete in 2002. Vern attended St. Paul's Lutheran School in Steeleville, Illinois through the 8th grade and graduated from Chester High School in Chester, Illinois in 1955. He attended St. Paul's College, Concordia Missouri, Concordia Seminary in Ft. Wayne and Concordia Teacher's College in River Forest, Indiana. He completed his master's degree in Elementary Education in 1965 at Indiana University, Bloomington. He taught Jr. High students for 28 years at Immanuel Lutheran School and taught 4th grade for 4 years. Vern had a servant's heart and was a member of Citizens for Decent Literature in Seymour, served on the Indiana District LCMS on the Social Concerns Committee for 8 years, served on the Jackson County Health Board for 6 years and on the Seymour Parks and Rec Board for 12 years where he was instrumental in getting the pool built at Shields Park. As a member of Zion Lutheran Church, his faith was strong, and he was very involved in church. He taught bible class at Muscatatuck State Hospital and conducted church services in Lutheran Churches in southern Indiana and Kentucky as the need dictated for 8 years. He taught confirmation and adult confirmation classes at Zion Lutheran and served as Lay Minister for 10 years. Vern also sold monuments for Marshall Monuments for many years and worked for Schneider Nursery for several years. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Margaret Schwarz and Lucille Koester, a baby brother, two sons-in-law, Richard Tate, Jr. and Kevin Dukes. Surviving to cherish his memory are his wife, Joyce, children, Greg (Jill) Prange, Teresa (Dave) Flint, Roger (Phyllis) Kriete, Karla (Dwight) Eddy, Jeff (Melody) Kriete and Julie (Steve Cherry) Tate, brother, Delbert (Sherry) Prange, grandchildren, Piper (Jeremy) Daulton, Skylar Prange, Mahlie (Jason) Whitker, Mitch (Samantha) Dukes, Andrew Kriete, Chris (Joe Hampton) Kriete, Nathan (Ashley) Eddy, Nicholaus (Mackenzie) Eddy, Alex (Abby) Eddy, Ann (Steve) Shaffer and Dennis (Michelle) Gagnon, as well at 23 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at Burkholder Chapel of Thorne-George Family Funeral Homes, 419 N. Chestnut Street, Seymour and one hour prior to the service at Zion Lutheran Church, 1501 Geiser Drive, Seymour. The service will be at 10:00 am Thursday at the church with Rev. Jeffrey Stuckwisch and Rev. Brad Akey officiating. He will be laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery in Seymour. Memorials may be made through Burkholder Chapel to Zion Lutheran Church or to the organization of your choice. Please share memories and condolences at www.burkholderfuneralchapel.com. Cemetery Details Riverview Cemetery 1603 Shields Avenue Seymour, IN 47274 Previous Events Visitation DEC 28. 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET) Burkholder Funeral Chapel of Thorne-George Family Funeral Homes 419 N Chestnut St Seymour, IN 47274 burkholderchapel@gmail.com https://www.burkholderfuneralchapel.com/ Visitation DEC 29. 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (ET) Zion Lutheran Church 1501 Gaiser Dr Seymour, IN 47274 Service DEC 29. 10:00 AM (ET) Zion Lutheran Church 1501 Gaiser Dr Seymour, IN 47274