Michael E. Langan

Michael “Mike” Edward Langan, 86, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, passed away peacefully at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, on April 3, 2026. He was born on December 13, 1939, to Robert and Pauline (Schlarbaum) Langan.

Mike was united in marriage to the love of his life, Janet (Leppert), on December 29, 1957. The couple married at the First Baptist Church in Fairfield, Iowa, beginning a devoted marriage that spanned 68 years.

Mike is survived by his wife, Janet (Leppert); his children, Michael K. Langan (Wendy) of Washington, Iowa, Kathy McConahay (Bret) of Columbus Junction, Iowa, and Teresa Owens (Mike) of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; his grandchildren, Stacy Holtgrewe (Jared), Meghan Hank (Tyler), Brian McConahay (Jennie), and Rachel Watters (Chris); eight cherished great‑grandchildren; and his siblings, Nancy Fulton, Gary Langan, Angela Hoff, and Stephen P. Carl.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Langan (Lily) and Pauline Carl (Raymond); his son, Richard Kelly; his sister, Carole Albrecht; and his great‑granddaughter, Harlyn Holtgrewe.

Mike graduated from Fairfield High School in 1957, and earned his education degree from Parsons College. He later earned graduate degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Iowa. Mike dedicated many years to teaching at the WACO Community School District and the Columbus Junction Community School District, where he shared his love of learning—and his sense of humor—with a generation of students.

Mike proudly served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1960.

A man of many interests, Mike enjoyed traveling and almost always had a trip in the works, with Amtrak being his preferred mode of transportation. Navarre Beach, Florida, held a special place among his favorite destinations. He was an avid reader, particularly enjoying historical nonfiction and autobiographies. Mike also loved card games, especially bridge, 10-point pitch and countless games of hearts played on his computer. A devoted collector, he owned more than 1,500 LP records, carefully curated a collection of over 200,000 postmarks, and built an extensive coin collection.

Known for his sense of humor, Mike was a jokester at heart and especially enjoyed receiving a playful “head squeeze.” He loved taking his children and grandchildren on adventures and was passionate about teaching them to appreciate history and travel. You could always count on finding a cold Coca‑Cola in his refrigerator and a variety of candy nearby.

Visitation will be held 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Olson-Yoder Funeral Home. The family will be present to greet friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. A private family graveside service will be held in the Columbus City Cemetery in Columbus City, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his honor to the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the VA Hospital in Iowa City for their compassionate care.

The Olson-Yoder Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Mike and his family. Condolences may be left for the family at www.olsonyoderfh.com