A Mass of Christian burial for Henry “Hank” Engels, age 72, of St. Kilian, MN, was held on Tuesday, February 4, 2019, at St. Kilian Catholic Church in St. Kilian with Fr. Richard Colletti officiating. The organist was Cate Koehne. The song leader was Leslie Slater. The pallbearers were Peter Scroggs, Paul Scroggs, Joshua Entinger, Jessica Boen, Char Petersen, Scott Brooeckel and Todd Wieneke. Interment was at St. Kilian Catholic Cemetery in St. Kilian, MN with military honors accorded by the Lismore America Legion Post. Hank passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2020. He was born November 19, 1947 in Marshall, MN, to Joseph and Charlotte (Mommer) Engels. He grew up in Minneota, MN until 1951 when the family moved to a farm near St. Kilian. Hank graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in 1966. He then attended Worthington Junior College in Worthington, MN until he was kindly asked not to return.
On December 4, 1968 Hank enlisted in the United States Army. Following his honorable discharge on December 4, 1970, he returned to family farm. On March 27, 1971, he and Lois Ann Bottin Spear were married at St. Kilian Catholic Church. Following their marriage they farmed near St. Kilian and raised their three children. On January 27, 2020 Hank became a resident of the Maple Lawn Nursing Home where he passed away.
He was a member of St. Kilian Catholic Church where he served as an usher, on the cemetery board for seven years, and was a member of the Holy Name Society. He also was a member of the Lismore American Legion Post and served on the Wilmont Township Board from 1989 to 2007. Hank and Lois enjoyed spending wintertime in Yuma, AZ. Hank enjoyed threshing bee’s, history, Sudoku Puzzles, Wheel of Fortune, Minnesota Twins, driving his scooter around, visiting with people, tinkering on cars, and he loved his Fords. Hank and his granddaughter, George had a truly special friendship and grandpa was putty in George’s hands.
Survivors include his wife, Lois Engels of St. Kilian, MN; three children, Bill Engels (Melissa) of St. Louis Park, MN, Jannette Engels of Wilmont, MN, and Patrick Engels, of Wilmont, MN; one granddaughter, Samantha “George” Moulton; special nephew, Joshua Entinger; six siblings and their spouses, Frances Scroggs of St. Kilian, MN, Theresa and Jake Wieneke of Lismore, MN, Charles and Pam Engels of Palisade, MN, CC and Dale Broesder of Wilmont, MN, Mary Jo Engels of Las Vegas, NV, and Peggy and Larry Intender of Chandler, MN; two brothers-in-law, Robert and Jann Spear of Fox Lake, MN, and Kal Koball of Sioux Falls, SD; sister-in-law, Marie and Scott Thoelke of Sioux Falls, SD; and several nieces and nephews and their families.
He is preceded in death his parents; in-laws, mother-in-law, Mervene and her husband, Frank Spear; father-in-law, Ed Bottin, brother-in-law, Ken Scroggs, and sister-in-law, Shirley Koball.
Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements.
