Caledonia Argus

Man loses business in fire

Posted: 5/21/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

The Bob Lange family of Caledonia is hoping that its luck changes.

Last week, a fire destroyed Langeís business office. And, for the past year his wife, Shari, has been suffering chronic pain from injuries she received in a car accident last year.

Early Tuesday morning, May 14, Lange woke to someone pounding on his front door. A truck driver driving by noticed his shed was on fire.

ìI couldnít believe it! My heart just about dropped,î he said recalling the sight of his business going up in flames.

Lange has been selling minerals and vitamins for livestock for Standard Nutrition for 21 years. He has lived in his home on Hwy. 44 at the bottom of Guberud Hill for the past 11 years. He used a shed behind his house as his office and to store supplies.

When he got to the fire, everything but the office portion of the shed was in flames. ìI did go in and save some metal folders,î he said.

The fire destroyed over 20 rifles, one of which was an heirloom, and all of his hunting supplies, deer racks and family photographs. The family pictures include those of Langeís children, Dustin and Melissa, growing up.

ìAll the kidsí pictures, thatís the hardest part,î he said, ìYou canít replace those; thatís hard to swallow.î

Lange explained that many family pictures were in his office because he spent a lot of time there.

Lange reordered supplies to deliver to his customers because all his orders were lost in the fire. He said, ìIíve been fortunate enough that the company has made more deliveries (for me).î

His delivery van was also lost in the fire, and he is renting one to complete deliveries.

Lange is also completing the arduous process of finding what files needs to be replaced to figure out his customerís status. ìI got a bunch of records. I just got to get them pulled up and recreate new ones.î

Lange has a nine page list going of items lost in the fire that will be turned into the insurance company. He said, ìYou donít know if you got enough (insurance) until itís time to collect.î

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is being investigated.

Lange plans to start building a new office in three weeks.

On March 21, 2001, Shari was struck by another vehicle while driving to work. She survived the crash, but has been in constant pain due to her injuries. She will need a hip replacement surgery. ìItís going to get worse before it gets better,î said Lange of his wife.

Heís been planning to put an addition on the house so that Shari doesnít have to walk up and down the stairs. ìHer hip canít take it,î he said, ìNow this came along.î

Lange said they will still probably continue with the addition, but heís not sure how many more disasters he can take.

ìMy luckís gotta change; I hope,î he said.

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