Walter Hans Lang

H. Walter Lang, 100, of Battle Creek, Michigan and formerly of Rochester Hills, Michigan, died peacefully at Pineview Assisted Living in Battle Creek, Michigan on Saturday, November 1, 2025.

Walter was born Hans Walter Lang in Kell, Germany May 29, 1925, the son of Peter and Helene (Sistig) Lang. When WW I devastated the country, his father left to find work in America. A few months later two-year-old Walter and his mother followed, settling in York, PA. He attended Catholic schools, had a paper route, caddied, and participated in the Boy Scouts. Walter was attracted to many sports, his favorite being swimming and diving. He was a 1943 graduate of York Catholic High School in York, PA. In 1943, after one semester at Villanova University, Walter was drafted into World War II. He honorably served with the U.S. Army during WWII in the South Pacific. After WWII, Walter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Villanova University (previously Villanova College) in Philadelphia, PA. Walter was employed as an air conditioning engineer for the York Manufacturing Company and York-Shipley Inc.

Walter was united in marriage to Marie Frances Kunstel on May 15, 1954, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Cleveland, Ohio. Walter was offered employment with General Motors Corporation as an automotive engineer, so he moved his wife and infant daughter to Royal Oak, Michigan. Three sons soon followed requiring a larger home in Troy. Rochester Hills was Walter and Marie’s final home together.

After nearly 33 years with GM, Walter retired to spend summers at the family’s cottage on Lake Bellaire. When his wife, died in 2016, Walter moved to Battle Creek to be closer to his daughter, making his home at NorthPointe Woods, a senior living community.

Walter was preceded in death by wife, Marie on November 13, 2016, a sister, Helga (Sr. Therese) Lang, and his parents, Peter and Helene Lang. Surviving are his daughter, Patricia (Douglas) Riggs of Battle Creek, sons, Peter Lang of Manchester, CT and Jonathan Lang of Vista, CA, grandsons, Paul (Terri) Riggs of West Bloomfield, Joseph (Rachel) Riggs of Golden, CO, Daniel (Lisa) Riggs of Northville, great grandsons, Ian and Alex Riggs of West Bloomfield, and great granddaughter, Evelyn Riggs of Golden CO.

Walter was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, St. Luke, St. Andrew, and St. Joseph churches, and Centennial Farm Golf Club. He served as Bellaire North Arms neighborhood association president.

As a young father, Walter enjoyed photographing the family and taking camping trips in northern Michigan and Pennsylvania. Summers in retirement were spent at his Bellaire cottage swimming, boating, sailing, fishing, and golfing. Activities at his winter home in Rochester Hills included skiing, tennis, reading, and woodworking.

In addition to their honeymoon in Bermuda, Walter and Marie enjoyed vacationing in Florida, South Carolina, California, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Caribbean. Walter’s work took him to Arizona, Colorado, and California for vehicle road testing.

Friends will be received 9:50 – 10:25 a.m. Friday, November 7, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by Rev. Christopher Ankley at St. Joseph Church, Battle Creek 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 7, 2025. Military Honors, committal and interment will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Guardian Angel Cemetery, 4701 Rochester Rd., Rochester, MI, where Walter will be laid to rest next to Marie.

Please consider memorial contributions to: St. Joseph Church at 61 N. 23rd St., Battle Creek, MI 49015, Boys Town, PO Box 8000, Boys Town, NE 68010 or Sisters of St. Joseph, Office for Mission Advancement, 150 French Rd., Rochester, NY 14618-3822

Arrangements are by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care. Personal messages to Walter’s family or remembrances of Walter may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com .