Mrs. Susan Kay Lange, 67, of Clover, South Carolina, passed away peacefully at home, on Thursday, May 11, 2023.  Everyone who knew Sue, was aware of the health problems that dominated her life during the last decades. Even so, it’s important not to frame her life in terms of her illness, but to focus on the full life she led and shared with her many friends and family.

Sue was born on November 30, 1955, in Santa Monica, California. She came into the world as the third of four children born to Charles and Shirley Chalk.  As an aerospace engineer, her father’s career took Sue and the family to live in many places, including California, Texas and Maryland.   

Susan was always known as a happy child.  Her siblings all remember her (as a toddler) introducing herself as, “Tooey”, in an effort to pronounce “Susie”.   Much to the envy of her sisters, Susie was considered the “adorable one” in the family.  Blonde hair, pigtails, and big brown eyes lined with her father’s famous long eyelashes.  Susan had a smile that melted the hearts of many. 

As a child, she often tagged along with her big sister to birthday parties and scouting events.  Her cousins loved carrying her on their shoulders when the family got together for summer BBQs. She particularly adored her older brother Alan, and would often watch him work on his cars in hopes of being invited for a ride when he was done.  Those of you who only knew Sue in her later life, probably never realized that Sue was the athlete of the family, winning the Presidential Physical Fitness Award every year in junior and senior high school.  This was a challenge her siblings never quite managed to achieve.  Later in life she proved she could even hold her own, while snow skiing with her son, Nick.

Sue married Mark Lange in Lake Tahoe on January 1, 1990.  She lived and worked for many years in Applegate, California as a Production Planner for Coherent Inc.  before relocating to Clover, South Carolina with her husband. Sue and Mark had a lifelong passion for training and showing Belgium Sheep dogs. They raised several AKC and CKC champion dogs.   Her favorite dog was Mariah who helped raise her son Nick.  Those close to Susan remember she also had a passion for growing irises, water skiing and making custom jewelry. 

Susan was a strong, independent woman. As a mother who loved her family, she was fiercely proud and protective of her only child, Nicholas. It was understood by the family that unsolicited advice on child rearing was clearly out of bounds.  Nick as he is now known, grew into the kind of man any mother (especially Susan) would be proud of. Susan’s strength and determination in life was matched by Mark’s continuing efforts to provide her the best quality of life possible. As Parkinson’s disease slowly robbed Susan of her independence, without complaint, Mark

assumed the role of devoted caretaker. Thousands of miles away from any family, Mark remained resilient, caring for Susan in their home until her death. Susan loved Mark. 

Susan is survived by her husband of 33 years, Mark Lange; her son, Nicholas Seibert, and wife Melinda, her grandchildren, Nycole Seibert and Riley Seibert; her sisters, Wendy Chalk and Nancy Chalk; and her brother, Alan Chalk.

It’s impossible to adequately describe a long, full life in a few sentences. These few sentences don’t do justice to Sue, but it can be said with certainty, that she will live on in the memory of those who knew her.

All services will be private and held at a later date.

Memorials can be made in Susan’s name to the Parkinson Association of the Carolinas.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.