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Dorance S. Grange

1922 - 1944

Dorance S. Grange Killed In Airplane Crash In Colorado

Was Flying Instructor; Had Formerly Lived At Klemme

A Greenville, Tex., press dispatch dated this morning (Wednesday) said that 2nd Lt. Dorance S. Grange, 21, flying instructor from Mason City, and his student aviation cadet, Harvey R Chapin, 24, of Flint, Mich., were killed Tuesday in a crash southwest of Caddo Mills, Colo., according to the announcement of the commanding officer.

Grange's family formerly lived in Klemme and he graduated from the high school there and latter attended junior college at Mason City for one year and Iowa State Teachers college, Cedar Falls, one year. He began pilot training in 1943 and became a second lieutenant in December of that year. He was an acrobatic instructor.

His father was manager of the Northern Lumber Co. at Klemme and then became manager of that firm at Mason City when the family moved there two years ago. The family is well known in Garner. Dorance was a member of the local drum and bugle corps for sometime and his father was a member of the Masonic lodge here and his mother a member of the Eastern Star. Dorance's sister, Doris, died 22 years ago.

The body is being shipped to Klemme for burial. Funeral arrangements had not been made at the time The Leader and Signal went to press.

source: Garner Leader & Signal, 10 May 1944, page 1

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Former Klemme Youth Died Tuesday Afternoon

On Routine Flight With His Student When Plane Crashed

Word was received in Klemme Tuesday evening of the death of Dorance S. Grange, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Grange of 216 South **nt Street, Mason City, who lived in Klemme for over twenty years before moving to Mason City. Mr. Grange is manager of the Northern Lumber Co.

Details of the fatal crash of Lt. Grange are meager, but it was said that Lt. Grange, who is an pilot instructor at Major's Flying Field at Greenville, Texas., was on a routine flight with one of his students when the plane crashed near a small town out from the Army base, Tuesday afternoon, May 9, 1944 at 2:45 o'clock.

The crash occurred near Caddo Mills, about 20 miles southwest of Greenville. The other victim of the accident was Harvey Chapin, Flint, Michigan, according to the news release by officials at Major's Field.

Dorance S. Grange, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Grange was born December 21, 1922, at Klemme and attended the Klemme grade and high schools and graduated on *** with the class of 1940. He continued his schooling and attended the Mason Junior College for one year, and then at State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, preparing himself for a career in aviation.

Mr. Grange began his career in aviation at the Mason City airport where he earned a private pilot's license.

Mr. Grange enlisted in the Army Corps and was called in service on February 3, 1943 and began his preflight training at San Antonio, Texas. After completing the course at San Antonio, he went to ***ory Field, Vernon, Texas to finish his primary flight training. His basic flight training was at Major's field at Greenville, Texas, where he completed his flying in **phase of training and was about to begin his final course in **ny school of aviation.

He took his advanced training at the U. S. Army Air Forces Fighter Training School at Victoria, Texas, where he was graduated on **ber 5th, 1943, was commissioned a second Lieutenant and received his Silver Wings.

After spending a 10 day leave at home he returned to San Antonio for instructor training for 4 weeks and then was sent to Greenville as an instructor, in which capacity he worked for the past five weeks.

Grange was a member of the Klemme Reformed Church and always regarded Klemme as his own home town.

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Grange are members of the Klemme American Legion and Auxiliary, the Methodist Church at Mason City. Mr. Grange is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Garner and Mrs. Grange is a member of the Eastern Star **itr Shrine.

Funeral Services Friday

Funeral services for Lt. Grange will be held Friday afternoon, at the Weslyan Methodist Church at Mason City at 1:15 o'clock, and at the Klemme Reformed Church at *:00 o'clock. Burial will be in the Klemme Cemetery at the ** Lt. Grange's little sister, Doris, who died a number of years ago.

source: Klemme Times, 10 May 1944, page 1

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Funeral Services for Lt. Dorance Grange Were Held Saturday

Special to Garner Leader and Signal

Klemme - The funeral services for Lt. Dorance S. Grange, who was killed in a plane crash in Texas May 9, were held Saturday afternoon at Wesley Methodist church, Mason City, and at the Evangelical and Reformed church Klemme, with burial in Ell township cemetery. The Rev. Calvin Grosshuesch was in charge of the service in Klemme.

Pallbearers were Sumner Trumbell, George Lawhorn, Wm. C. Keraus, Fred Steffen, Lyndon Wilkinson, Robert Glazier, Larry Folsom, Walter Thomas and Johnny Johnson.

Lt. Grange was born Dec. 21 1922 at Klemme. He leaves besides his parents, his grandfather, S. S. Grange, Ruthven; his uncles and aunts, Wm. Simon of St. Paul; Walter, Edwin and Fred Grange of Ruthven, Mrs. Lena Hughes of Des Moines, and Mrs. Henry Keeper of Klemme, besides other relatives and numerous friends.

source: Garner Leader & Signal, 17 May 1944, page 1

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