[3] Born in 1920 in Seymour, Wisconsin, in Outagamie County,[4] Runge attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was on the debate team and majored in American Institutions.

Runge served as a logistics officer in the Quartermaster Corps of the Third U.S. Army under General George S. Patton during World War II, from 1942 until 1946, where he achieved the rank of Major and was awarded the Bronze Star.

In 1951, he joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin Law School as Assistant Dean, and in less than seven years he attained the rank of a full professor.

[6] During his time as a professor, Runge continued to serve in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and attained the rank of colonel and Logistics Officer for the division.

[11][12] In this position, Runge served as one of the leaders of the President's Missile Sites Labor Commission, played an instrumental role in the study and deployment of reserve troops,[13] and advocated against racial discrimination against African Americans in the military.

After leaving the Kennedy Administration, Runge returned to the University of Wisconsin System, where he acted as Special Assistant to President Ed Young.

He later became active in the affairs of Northland College and the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, and was the leading advocate of the bill that banned tubing on the Brule River.