Vernon Roy Engel

Vernon R. Engel, age 96, of Hanley Falls passed away on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at the Granite Falls Hospital in Granite Falls. Service will be at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. Visitation will be 5 – 7 p.m. on Monday, March 26, 2012 at the Sunset Funeral Home in Echo with a prayer service at 6:45 p.m., with visitation continuing one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in the St. John’s Lutheran Church cemetery. The Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association of Echo and Wabasso is handling the arrangements. Vernon R. Engel was born on December 20, 1915 to Carl Junior and Alvina (Lorenz) Engel on the family farm in rural Hanley Falls, Yellow Medicine County. He attended and graduated from the Hanley Falls School District. He was baptized and confirmed at Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls. On December 8, 1946 Vernon married Gladys Markgraf at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. They made their home on the family farm until the fall of 1983, when they moved into Wood Lake. In June of 2007 they moved into the Parkwood Apartments in Belview and in September of 2011 Vern moved into the Granite Falls Manor where he resided until his passing. Vernon was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake for more than 60 years, and had served as a church elder. He devoted his life to his beloved wife, Gladys, and to his family. He enjoyed playing piano, organ and the accordion; he was also an avid reader. In the 1940’s, he had a dance band with his brother Earle, and he enjoyed meeting people who remembered the band. In their retirement Vern and Gladys enjoyed traveling all over the United States, especially visiting their children and staying at the beach. In later years he played his accordion at the nursing homes in the area and other events, and he played his organ for the residents at Parkwood up until the time he moved to the nursing home. He set a wonderful example for his family and the community in caring for Gladys until her death in 2007. He mourned her for the remainder of his life, and eagerly looked forward to a reunion with his Lord and with her in heaven. On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, Vern passed away at the Granite Falls Hospital in Granite Falls at the age of 96. He is survived by his three daughters, Carol (Ken) Rikke of Echo, MN, Nancy (Dick) Busiahn of Cannon Falls, MN and Connie (Herman) Cole of Wake Forest, NC; one son, Gary Engel of Lake Wylie, SC; eleven grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, nieces and nephews. His parents, wife Gladys, and three brothers, Floyd, Stanley and Earle preceded him in death.