Donald Langan

Dr. Donald (Don) Langan  passed away September 13, 2016, at his home.  He was born in Park Rapids, MN, to parents, Don and Nina (Benham) Langan, on December 8, 1943.  He grew up in Park
Rapids and graduated high school there.  He received a B.S. degree in English, and psychology from Bemidji State in 1964 and married Sharon Stenberg in 1964.  They moved to the Oregon coast in January, 1965, and began a successful career teaching English, speech and drama and coaching several state wrestling champions. He taught at Siusalaw High School, served as high school principal at  Nia-Kah-Nie School District, and Director of Instruction at Kalispell, MT schools system. During that time his children, Jennifer, Jeffrey, and Lisa were born.                        
In 1972 he received his Ph.D. from Washington State University at Pullman, WA.  From 1973-1980 he was adjunct researcher for Far West Regional Laboratory at San Francisco, CA.  Don returned to MN and became superintendent for the Goodrich ISD (1980); Erskine ISD (1982); McIntosh-Winger ISD (1985) and while there  he aided in the establishment of the Win-E-Mac  Public School.  He moved to northeastern MN,  where he was concurrent superintendent of Aurora-Hoyt Lakes and Biwabik school districts.  While there he aided in the establishment of  the  Mesabi-East  Public School system.  In 1992 he became superintendent of Cook County School District, Grand Marais, MN.  In 1997 he became superintendent of the St. Louis County Schools.  In 2004 he became superintendent at International Falls, MN, ending his career at Ely Public School.
In 2007 Don was invited to present an academic paper at the Oxford  Round Table, Oxford, UK,  and in 2009 he was requested by the U.S. Department of State to participate as an observer of the Chinese Education Systems, Beijing , China.
On September 1, 1990, Don married Jo Foster from Fosston, MN.  He and his wife, Jo, built a home on Birch Lake, Babbitt, MN, in 2000.  He was a member of Babbitt Evangelical Lutheran Church where he served as council member, sang in the choir and assisted in their pulpit ministry. Don was also a director and then chairman of  the Ely-Bloomenson Hospital Board until his death.
His interests beyond the superintendent’s desk were eclectic.  He dearly loved hunting of every kind; deer, elk in MT, game birds and water fowl.  He spent many hours at his reloading bench perfecting loads.  He also spent hours fishing, and especially cherished the times with kids and grandkids at Birch.  He was also an avid reader and was dubbed by his wife, Jo, as  “a walking encyclopedia”.  His interest in aviation resulted in a pilot’s license and many hours in his Piper Cherokee.  But the highlight of his professional and personal life was watching his five children and grandchildren grow up to become successful adults.
Don is survived by his wife, Jo; daughter Jennifer (Steve) Olson of Thief River Falls and grandchildren,  Benjamin, Samuel and Isaac; son, Jeffrey (Kim) of Thief River Falls and grandchildren Alissa (Zach) Anderson and great grandchildren, Henley, Thea and Solveig, Aaron (Emily) Langan and Adam Langan; and daughter Lisa (Bill) Desrocher of Brainerd MN, and grandchildren Elisabeth, William and Seth.  Don is also survived by his stepchildren, Jason (Jenny) Foster and granddaughter Kailey of Princeton MN; and Erica (Michael) Piza and grandchildren Vivienne and Mason of Zimmerman, MN.  He is also survived by his mother, Nina Langan; sisters, Sue (Duane) Grage, Pam Langan, Shannon (Paul) Hinz; sister-in-law Jan Langan; and many nieces and nephews.
Don was preceded in death by his father and twin brother, Tom.  Don will be remembered by his family and friends.  His steps on the earth mattered.
The family prefers memorials to: Cancer Infusion Center, Duluth Clinic; Colon Cancer Coalition; Babbitt Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Babbitt at 11:00 A.M. with visitation being held one hour prior to the service at the church. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

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