Garvan John van Lange (better known as John) was born in the county of Essequibo in British Guiana (now Guyana) on April 11, 1925, to John Garvan and Ruby van Lange. They welcomed this new addition to the family with great joy, since their first child Myrtle lived for only a few days.
He was a happy and healthy child with a ready smile and a pleasant disposition, eager to absorb much of what he was exposed to in his immediate environment.
When he was very young, his family relocated to an area in the country where his dad owned much land. In these peaceful surroundings of fruit trees and nature, he attended elementary school and learned to appreciate good books and a life of reading. His dad became ill and incapacitated when he was only about 16 years old; being the oldest child, John terminated his formal education and went to work in the lumber industry and became the sole supporter of the family for over three years until his Dad was able to return to work. John continued to work in the lumber business for many years, first as an assistant to his Dad, then as a contractor, a manager and eventually an owner. When the lumber industry experienced a severe slump, he turned to the area of mining and traversed the interior of the country seeking diamonds and gold. He had some fantastic tales to tell about these experiences, which added to his large repertoire of jokes and stories. He was often asked how he could recall in such detail incidents that occurred many years before.
John was also a skilled mechanic and serviced tractors, trucks, boats, and winches. On one occasion when the operators could not get an airplane to fly, he diagnosed the problem with the engine, fixed it, and sent the plane flying.
While yet a young man, he visited the Demerara area; met and fell in love with Joyce Fleming. They were united in marriage on February 13, 1952. To this union were born six children: Wendell (Patricia); Melville (Monica); Darlene (Albert); Ena (David); Valerie (Clement) and Garvan who have given them the following grandchildren: Tiffany, Adam, Garvan, Terence, Alicia, AJ, Adam, Nicole, Andrew, Allyson, Leiann and Brandon and great grandchildren; Noah, Averie, Ashtyn, Jax, Amari, Demi, Alyssa, Dylan and Zoey.
He and Joyce migrated to the US in 1979 and they lived in the Chicago area until 1996 when Joyce passed away. He was a very lonely man after her death, and he moved to Florida to live with his daughter, Valerie, and her family.
In 2000, he met an old friend of the family, Lynette Veronica Tong, proposed and married her. They have lived in the Hollywood area since their union.
He was preceded in death by brothers; Basil, Harry, Albert, Roy, Bruno, and sisters; Anice, Marjorie and Ena. He leaves to mourn his passing , wife Lynette, his six children and their spouses; his grandchildren and great grands, his beloved brother Ivan (Grace), his stepdaughter Ingrid, 13 nephews and nieces, many great and great-great nephews and nieces and many other relatives and friends.
He was a man who was devoted to and loved his family, lived the faith which he believed and looked forward to the resurrection and a future life with Jesus.
May he now rest in peace.
A Public Visitation will be on Monday, December 7, 2020 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM with a Tributes of a Lifetime & Religious Service starting at 2:00 PM at Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, 6400 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Florida 33024.
Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the family is offering a live video stream of the service beginning at 2:00 PM. This will be LIVE on the Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care Facebook page at:
Hover & Click to the Right of the Arrow —> BOYD-PANCIERA FAMILY FUNERAL CARE FACEBOOK
Please note modifications are in place regarding Visitation and Services due to the Coronavirus. Boyd-Panciera is following all local and state guidelines and is taking all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety and health of our families and staff to halt the spread of COVID-19. Social Distancing and Face Masks are in effect.
Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, Hollywood Chapel
Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, Hollywood Chapel
© 2026 Boyd Panciera. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Shelley Goldstein
December 4, 2020, 10:32 pm
My heart goes out to the family of this amazing. I’m sorry that I did not get to know him, but from the stories I’ve heard he was wonderful. Rest in peace.💔
Floretta Yarde-Deygoo
December 5, 2020, 12:00 am
My sincere condolences to Cousin John’s children and the rest of the family. I was always told what a very nice person he was and fortunately, I experienced it for myself when Aunt Edna DeClou, my daughter and I had the pleasure of spending a wonderful couple of days with him and Cousin Joyce in Framingham Massachusetts and they paid us a few visits when they were in the New York area. May God lift you all up and give you strength to endure the sadness of his passing. May his soul Rest In Eternal Peace🙏🏽
Lori Hart
December 5, 2020, 12:14 am
I’m so sorry about your father Valerie.
Nicole Rose
December 5, 2020, 12:23 am
Love you my darlings each and everyone….you are family, they were family with mother we made marshmallows tamarind balls and Jube jubes days I will never forget.
Rest in Peace my Darlings..
Bulah Alexandet
December 5, 2020, 12:56 am
To the family of John, we pray that God give you the strength to carry on and remember all the good memories he left behind.
From John and Bulah Alexander
Debrah Robinson + Olive Marques
December 5, 2020, 3:30 am
Condolences to Ena,Darling,siblings and family. Sorry for your loss.May his soul Rest In Peace
Sue Gupta
December 5, 2020, 3:55 am
We were all saddened to hear the news of Uncle John’s passing. I will never forget his smile and his amazing stories of working in the interior of Guyana. We remember him last at my mom’s Frances. 80th birthday in Belleville. He was a character and a gentleman – a rare gem. He will not be forgotten. May he rest in peace. With our love and deepest sympathies to the family. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Frances, Sue and family.
Gabriela Henderson
December 5, 2020, 4:56 am
So sorry for your loss. Condolences to your family.
Brian vasconcellos
December 5, 2020, 12:29 pm
I am so sorry that i could not b their
Please accept our deepest condolences .
From the Vasconcellos’s
Family
Michael $ Sherene De Freitas
December 5, 2020, 2:12 pm
Condolence to Lynette and family from the De Freitas family sorry we could’nt make it .
Ivor Keizer
December 5, 2020, 7:00 pm
Deepest condolences to everyone. I would have loved to be able to be there with you folks during this time of great loss. However, my prayers and love are strength for the coming days ahead and hope to see Dad when His Lord returns for him, according to his faith. Take courage from what my father said of your father ,” he knew three real men in his lifetime and John Vanlangue was one of them”.
From Ivor Keizer and family .
Gloria Bernard
December 5, 2020, 8:45 pm
My sincere condolences to you Val,
and the entire family.
Your father was a great strong being, now he is at rest in paradise-hold on to all the great memories, he is now your Angel. Blessings to you and keeping the family in prayer.
Love always❤❤⚘
Reza R Ally
December 5, 2020, 11:06 pm
My deepest sympathies to all will be in touch
Nuff love
Joyce Huntley
December 6, 2020, 3:02 am
Please accept my deepest condolences. He will be sorely missed.
The Kone Family
December 6, 2020, 3:43 am
Dear Ena and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. May God give you strength and comfort and may your father Rest In Peace. Our sincere condolences.
Ann Walker
December 6, 2020, 10:10 am
Our deepest condolences!
Ann, Allen & family
Glenn Phillips
December 6, 2020, 1:49 pm
Greetings dear family!!! We are saddened to learn of the passing of your Dad. Kindly accept the condolences of the Phillips family of Barbados. We are the children of Uncle Vasco’s sister, Dorothy. Some of us remember Uncle John fondly when he visited Barbados to visit his Mom.
You are in our prayers as you face this difficult time in your lives. May your Dad Rest In Peace awaiting the call of Our Lord and Savior Jesus when He returns to take His faithful loved ones with Him.
Robin Sagar
December 6, 2020, 6:52 pm
So sorry to hear the sad news. Our thoughts are with the family. His stories and jokes will live on in our memories.
Cyril Persaud
December 7, 2020, 12:52 am
Extending our heartfelt condolences on John passing. He was an excellent story teller who had a lot of knowledge of our families descendants and made you feel proud of your roots.
Sorry, none of us can make it to the funeral but our taughts are with you.
Mano, Kitty the Persaud & Jagan family
Thelda Van Lange-Greaves
December 7, 2020, 1:26 am
Will miss my dear uncle John when I visit Miami. He always seemed so genuinely happy to see me. We will meet again in that great getting up morning. He told me that he had made his right with Jesus.
“In the land of fadeless day, lies a city four-square
It shall never pass away, and there is no night there.
God shall wipe away all tears, there’s no death , no pain nor fears, and they count not time by years, for there is no night there.”
Words by John Clements
Nikki Triffon Pratts
December 7, 2020, 1:50 am
I will always remember the fun times with you and grandma.
Till we meet again. ❤️
Lloyd, Gloria & Wesley Fleming
December 7, 2020, 2:21 pm
Sorry for your loss. Keep looking up. The time will come when hopefully we will all be reunited. May God continue his blessings in the lives Uncle John left behind.
Denise Murray
December 7, 2020, 3:55 pm
May he Rest in peace,,waiting on the Life-giver, for the great reunion,,,When the dead in Christ will rise first,,and there will be no more death to separate us from the Father,,,,,,Sleep in peace until that great resurrection day,,Condolences to the entire family,,,From ,Denise,Cindy,Danny and Elton Murray,,
Norma Greaves
December 7, 2020, 5:25 pm
This is Norma Greaves writing from Barbados, and sending my love and sympathy on the passing of
Uncle John (as I called him). I remember him since the day he arrived in Barbados to attend the wedding
of Ivan and Grace… then following up with visits in Miami on his visits to my cousins: Pree, Oswald & Eunice Boyce.
Keep strong everyone! God is good, and He will grant you comfort and peace.
Keep true and faithful as we await the soon coming of Jesus and the great resurrection morn.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. LOVE.
Compton
December 7, 2020, 5:26 pm
I extend my condolences to family and friends at this deepest time of the celebration of life for cousin John. A man who I knew for my entire life, a human of extraordinary qualities and a God fearing man . May he rest in peace . May God continue to keep everyone strong and healthy at this tragic juncture of our life.
Herman and Keisha Kiezer
December 7, 2020, 5:30 pm
We wish to express our deepest Sympathy to all the Loved ones and entire Van Lange family in this time of bereavement, we will continue to pray that God comfort you and give you peace.
With Lots of Love from the Kiezers of Atlanta.
Marcia Tong Kelman
December 7, 2020, 5:30 pm
Condolences to Lynette and the family may his soul RIP and rise in glory. 🙏🏼
Marcia,Egan Tong Kelman and family.
Joan & Earl Modeste
December 7, 2020, 6:01 pm
Please accept our deepest sympathy. May your Dad’s soul rest In Peace. I pray that God will give you all strength to overcome his death.
Joan & Earl Modeste
John Forsythe
December 7, 2020, 6:10 pm
To the entire Van Lange family we send our deepest condolences, many cousin John rest in eternal peace. Be strong and know your Lord is with you during this time of sorrow.
Karen, Dan and Jason Mintz
December 7, 2020, 6:54 pm
Val, with my deepest sympathy, I send healing prayers and comforting hugs to you and your family as you mourn the loss of your beloved father. He made a wonderful, lasting impression on me, and it was an honor to have celebrated several joyful milestones in his long and blessed life with him and your loving family. May your memories provide comfort and blessings.
Stella Couchman
December 7, 2020, 7:02 pm
Deepest Condolences
To the Vanlange family
I know that what you are
going through right now is very difficult, Just know that I am here for you. I am truly sorry for your loss
From Stella, Felisha, and Dwight
Terry & Gale Kersting
December 7, 2020, 7:58 pm
My Condolences to Family and Friends.
May His Journey be at Godspeed.🙏
Linda Williams
December 7, 2020, 8:45 pm
You and your family are in my thoughts as you grieve this loss. All my love. ❤️
Laurie Solomon
December 8, 2020, 1:39 am
Deepest condolences on the loss of your father, Valerie. Prayers and love from the Solomon Family.💐
Marilyn Browne
December 8, 2020, 12:19 pm
To the Van Lange Family
May his sweet soul rest in peace!
On behalf of my mother Joyce Browne (deceased) and the Browne, Bremner, and Forbes Families
Marilyn
December 8, 2020, 2:53 pm
My deepest condolences to the entire Vanlange family. Uncle John was like my second dad. I have so many wonderful memories of him when I was a little girl growing up in Bartica, those memories will forever be a part of me. My dad, Francis Pestano extend his deepest sympathy to the entire family. I pray that God continue to keep everyone strong during this difficult time.
Marilyn Matthews (Peatano)