Monty Tange: A Life Lived with Love, Laughter, and a Little Mischief

Clarence W. Tange – better known to all as Monty, and to a lucky few as Pop Pop – squeezed every ounce out of his 86 years of life. He passed on December 19, 2024, leaving an indelible imprint on his family, friends, and community.

Monty’s magnetism was undeniable. You might have known him as your neighborhood postmaster, little league or football coach, or as a member of the township planning board. Perhaps you supported Monty and his co-founders in creating the Bridgeton Athletic Association. Maybe you worked alongside him during his “retirement” – landscaping at Stem Brothers or assisting as the sharpest-dressed-man at Johnson-Walton Funeral Home. If you were really lucky, you shared the road with him and Marion on their Harley or line danced with them and the Country Gang to Hank Williams. Monty touched countless lives along his journey, leaving behind unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime memories.

Born on June 25, 1938, in Frenchtown, NJ, Monty spent his childhood there before planting roots in Upper Black Eddy, PA. A proud graduate of Frenchtown High School’s class of 1956, Monty went on to serve as a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, working as a naval aviation electrician stationed in Newfoundland.

A blind date introduced him to Marion Urban, sparking a romance that would span more than six decades. Monty met Marion while on leave, and the rest of their story reads like a romance novel. After completing his three-year service, Monty returned home, put a ring on Marion’s finger, and never looked back. Together, they built a home and a colorful life full of love, laughter, and three feisty kids – Mark, Michelle, and Matthew.

Monty wore many hats throughout his life. He worked for the United States Postal Service in Frenchtown, NJ, starting as a letter carrier and ultimately retiring as Postmaster. The Annual Postmasters Convention was a highlight of Monty and Marion’s year, offering them the chance to do one of their favorite things – travel.

Monty and Marion shared a love of adventure. They traveled to Germany, France, and over 30 states, including Hawaii (three times!). They loved dancing with their Country Gang dance group. Active members of the Indian Valley H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group), they traveled down to Florida for Bike Week on multiple occasions.  They were true snowbirds and enjoyed many warm winters at their Florida home, where they could ride their Harley in the sunshine – with Monty behind the handlebars and Marion on back.

But home was where Monty’s heart truly resided. He loved chopping wood, feeding the deer, and relaxing in his living room with Marion, a cup of tea, and the Eagles game on TV. Monty helped build his community, co-founding the Bridgeton Athletic Association, serving on the township planning board, and coaching little league and football. Even after retiring as Postmaster, Monty stayed busy landscaping for Stem Brothers and assisting at Johnson-Walton Funeral Home, forever holding the title of Sharpest Dressed Employee.

The son of the late Jens K. Tange and Norma (Doan) Doldt, Monty is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marion E. (Urban) Tange; his children Mark Tange of Bethlehem, PA, Michelle Davis and her husband John of Williams Township, PA, and Matthew D. Tange and his wife Carla of Wilmington, DE; his brother David Tange and his wife Luann of Quakertown, PA; his stepsister Anna Lewis of Tacoma, WA; and his grandchildren Blake Tange, Kyle Davis, and Kelsey Davis, as well as his beloved cat Cocoa. Monty is predeceased by his daughter-in-law, Lynn Woolf Tange.

The family will receive relatives and friends for a visitation on Thursday, December 26, 2024 from 5 – 8 PM at the Johnson-Walton Funeral Home, 24 Church Road, Holland Township, NJ. A funeral service will take place at the funeral home on Friday, December 27, 2024 at 11 AM with Rev. William “Tex” Culton officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Milford Union Cemetery.

In Monty’s memory, please consider donating to Nemours Children’s Health or Shriners Hospitals for Children – two organizations close to his heart for the life-changing care they provided to his grandson Blake and granddaughter Kelsey.