- Date Of Birth: November 23, 1947
- Date Of Death: July 27, 2018
- State: Illinois
Richard “Dick” Engels, age 70 of Freeport, IL, passed away at home on Friday, July 27, 2018.
He was born November 23, 1947; the son of the late Vernon and Mary Elizabeth (Shultz) Engels. Dick married Sandra Bookman on January 14, 1967; she passed in May of 2014.
He had served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, Specialist 5th Class, as a Senior Engineer Equipment Repairman from 1967 to 1970. Dick had worked for the Stephenson County Highway Dept. for 3 years and at Chrysler in Belvidere for 35 years, retiring in 2001. He also had worked at Park Hills Golf Course for 3 years.
He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Freeport where he was on the property & trustee committees. He was also an Elder at 2nd Presbyterian Church. He served as Director for the VietNow Veterans, Sr. Vice President of AmVets, trustee for the VFW, was a delegate for Veteran’s Assistant Commission of Stephenson County, and was director of the All Veteran’s Memorial Park which Dick and his best friend, Gary Eisenhower helped to build in 2005. He loved fishing and traveling, especially to the Upper Peninsula.
He is survived by his son, Doug (Camie) Engels of Monroe, WI; grandchildren, Macie & Brenna; Fiancé, Noelle Downey of Freeport; brother, Robert (Susan Kruger) Engels of Orangeville, IL; granddaughter “in heart”, McKenna O’Connell of Freeport; niece, Mattie Engels; nephew, Kevin Engels; and best friends, Gary & Sue Eisenhower of Freeport. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Sandra Engels.
His family would like to give a special thank you to FHN Hospice and caregivers Whitney O’Connell, Vicki Buehler, and Tammy Kubatzke for their heart felt care in the past months.
