Dan Lang, a plumber with a sense of humor, had an answer for the age-old problem of ring around the bathtub.
Square bathtubs.
"You can't get a ring around a square tub," said his sister-in-law, Phyllis Lang of Shaler. "He was so fun -- always laughing, always going out of his way to help everybody, always the life of the party, a jokester, a character."
Daniel P. Lang died of heart disease on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, at his home in Shaler. He was 51.
Mr. Lang was born Jan. 13, 1960, in Shaler to Earl and Betty Lang. His father was a production line maintenance mechanic for Heinz Co., and his mother was a homemaker.
In high school, he got a job with a heating and air conditioning company and started a business, Lang Heating, Cooling and Plumbing in Shaler, when he was in his 20s.
"His heart was so big he could have had a lot better business, but he did everything for free," said his brother, Jerry Lang of Shaler, who is taking over the business. "He wasn't in the business to make money. He made a living. He just wanted to enjoy himself."
Among his favorite pursuits was Independent Mountain Men of PA, of which he was vice president. The Mountain Men dressed in the garb of pioneers from the 1700s and 1800s and hunted with muzzle-loading muskets.
Mr. Lang dressed in buckskin with fringe and carried his muzzle loader, a powder horn and a leather bag with musket accessories.
He and the other Mountain Men, including his brother, would set up a canvas tent heated by a period wood-burner stove, sit around a fire and sing as others played guitars.
Mr. Lang enjoyed hunting deer, turkeys and other game with his musket.
"Dan made a helluva squirrel stew," said his brother with a laugh.
The Mountain Men club had an affiliate for women, and Mr. Lang met his companion, Debra Slomainy, through it.
He also enjoyed the conveniences of modern life, especially motorcycles. Dressed in black jeans, boots and a leather vest, he rode a Harley-Davidson 1989 Ultra Classic on trips to Daytona Beach, Fla., and Myrtle Beach, S.C.
He used the Harley for two clubs, the Patriot Guard Riders and the Fallen Marine Memorial Run. The Patriot Guard is a group of motorcyclists who shield the family of a fallen service member from protesters at funerals. The memorial run is a fundraiser for the family of service members disabled or killed in action.
Mr. Lang became interested in the clubs for veterans after his sister-in-law, Phyllis, lost a nephew in Iraq.
"The Fallen Marine Memorial Run was something we did every year, no matter rain, snow, sleet or hail," she said. "It was the most meaningful ride to us. We could understand what these families of these fallen heroes were going through because we went through it ourselves."
In addition to his parents, companion and brother, Mr. Lang is survived by his sons, Daniel and Andrew Lang, both of Millvale; sisters, Ronnie Richter of Cochranton in Crawford County and Debbie Stearns of Guys Mills in Crawford County.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in Bock Funeral Home Ltd., 1500 Mt. Royal Blvd., Shaler.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph Church in O'Hara.
