- Date Of Birth: January 23, 1929
- Date Of Death: January 2, 2018
- State: Illinois
Joseph D. “Red” Langenfeld passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at his home. He was born on January 23, 1929, in Centralia, Illinois, the son of Herbert A. and Mary C. (Sproul) Langenfeld. He married Rebecca A. Hankins in 1950 and she survives in Centralia and they later divorced. He later married Maryann Sanders and she survives in Centralia and they also later divorced.
Joe is survived by one son Dean Langenfeld and wife Benita, three daughters, Debbie Dorries and husband Doug, Jane Gruenenfelder and husband Mike and Pamela Campbell and husband Jeff: 7 Grandchildren, Heather Strader and husband Derek of Carlyle, Nichole Dorries-Sarensen and husband Joe of Centralia, Kyle Langenfeld of Bethalto, IL., Nathan Marcum and significant other Kerry Whitaker of St. Charles, MO., Erika Marcum and significant other Matt Reynolds, Alyssa Campbell and significant other Jacob Boyce and granddaughter Alexis Campbell all of Centralia. Great Grandchildren Grayson and Callie Strader of Carlyle, Aiden and Adalyn Reynolds of Centralia. He is also survived by a nephew Joey McCarty and wife Nita of San Antonio, TX.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson Kory Langenfeld and a sister, Betty McCarty and brother-in-law Joseph McCarty and a special Aunt Louise Baldridge. He graduated from Centralia Township High School where he was the only pitcher on A.L. Trout’s only baseball team at CTHS in 1947, he then went to Arkansas State on a football scholarship. After one year he transferred to Illinois to play baseball, but before playing a game he signed with the Chicago Cubs and was a member of the Cubs organization for five years.
Mr. Langenfeld was also a veteran of the Army Reserves for several years until he was released to return home because of the upcoming birth of his second child. He didn’t stay away from sports as he became an official and called basketball games for 31 years, football for 28 years and baseball for 20 years. He attended Centralia Orphan Basketball games for over 60 years and it was unusual to not see him at the games.
Mr. Langenfeld became a successful businessman in insurance and real estate and after retirement, he missed working so decided to finish his career at St. Mary’s Hospital. Mr. Langenfeld was a member of the CHS Board of Education for several years, was a sports enthusiast, and was inducted into the Centralia Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. He loved to hunt, fish, and play golf. You would see him often on the golf course not only in Centralia but in a variety of places in and out of state. Mr. Langenfeld loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and loved spending time with them.
