Ada H. Prange

Ada Hermine Prange, age 89, died November 24, 2012 from complications due to Parkinson's disease. Ada was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on April 22, 1923 to Charles E. and Hermine Friederike Sophie Franke Prange. Ada was the youngest of three children and the only girl. She was raised by her two brothers following their parents' deaths in 1939 and 1941. She graduated from Fort Wayne's South Side High School in 1941 and enrolled in nursing school in December of that year. Upon graduation from nursing school in 1944, Ada immediately joined the recently formed Cadet Nursing Corp. In July 1945 she was called to active duty by the US Army and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nursing Corps. In 1955, she graduated from a 1 year course in anesthesia with a grade of 99%. Following years of foreign and domestic postings, Ada was detailed to Okinawa in 1968. From July 1969 thru July 1970 she was assigned to the 36th and later to the 12th Evacuation Hospitals in Vietnam. Ada retired from the Army in July 1972 after 27 years 16 days of active duty. Her last post was at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Aurora, Colorado. While there she served as the chief of the Anesthesia Nursing Section and was a Clinical Instructor in Anesthesia to physicians during their 4 month rotations. During her military service she reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. Following her retirement, she served as a Red Cross Volunteer at Fitzsimmons Hospital thru 1992. Ada loved to travel and visit with family and friends. An avid photographer, she captured the vistas of the many places she visited through the years. The Colorado high country was a favorite destination. In the fall of every year she wanted to travel up into the mountains to see the aspens as they changed to gold. Ada was preceded in death by her brothers Frederick and Walter Prange. She is survived by her sister-in-law E Jean Prange; her niece Paula Hollopeter (Bob), grandniece Elizabeth and grandnephew Lewis; her nephew Norman Prange (Beth) and grandniece Laura; her nephew William Prange (Leigh Rhynalds). Thank you to the staff of Visiting Angels of Denver who allowed Ada to stay independent in her apartment as well as to the staff of Agape Hospice who managed her palliative and hospice care. A Memorial Service to celebrate her life is planned for December 12, 2012 at 1:00 pm at St Mark's Church, 111 Del Mar Circle, Aurora, Colorado. Internment will be at Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Indiana in May 2013. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Salvation Army of Denver, Disabled American Veterans, St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Aurora, CO or to the Parkinson's Disease charity of your choice.