1/18/2021 8:52:00 AM Funeral for Dick Engel to be held Jan. 24 at Zion Lutheran Church
Richard "Dick" Engel, 84, a lifelong Stewartville resident, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family, on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, from an illness with pancreatic cancer.
Richard Lee Engel was born Aug. 26, 1936 in Stewartville, to Russell and Kathryn (Stevenson) Engel. Dick grew up on the family farm, attending school and graduating from Stewartville High School in 1954. He excelled in athletics, participating in football, basketball, track and bowling. Dick started and operated Engel Construction for a number of years, while assisting his father, Russell, with the Engel Bus Service.
Dick was married on Dec. 5, 1964 in Stewartville to Hjordis Ferguson. They made their home in Stewartville and welcomed five children, Duane, Toni, Bryan, Nichole, and Leslie. After Russell retired, Dick took over ownership of the company running Engel Bus Service until his retirement in 2012. Hjordis was a homemaker and was employed at Mayo Clinic as a CT technologist. Dick was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and volunteered with the Stewartville Fire Department for many years. He was known for his lighthearted comedic personality, who enjoyed attending early morning coffee with his close friends. Dick was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children, grandchildren, and friends, spending many fishing trips in Northern Minnesota and Canada. Dick was always doing something or helping others with home projects. He spent many hours in his garden and loved cooking, canning and sharing his vegetables with family and friends and enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Gopher basketball games. Dick treasured time spent with his family. His good humor and gracious spirit will be greatly missed.
The Engel family would like to thank Mayo Hospice for the care and support they provided; and Zion Lutheran Church and Pastor Byron Meline for their love, support, and ministry.
Dick is survived by his wife of 56 years Hjordis; three daughters and two sons, Duane Engel of Stewartville, Toni (Jeff) Allhiser of Oronoco, Bryan Engel of Stewartville, Nichole (Cristian) Corniciuc of Phoenix, Arizona, and Leslie Engel of Stewartville; 19 grandchildren, (Duane): Sarah Engel, Ashley Engel and Braden Engel; (Toni): Emily Allhiser and Colton Allhiser; (Bryan): Sean Engel and Ariel Engel; (Nichole): Brenna Lien, Matthew Lien, Cristian Corniciuc Jr, Darius Corniciuc, Keira Dalgren, Hailey Corniciuc, Kiley Corniciuc and Cristian George Corniciuc; (Leslie): Paul Engel, Mikayla Engel-Streicher (Sarah), Kathryn Bucknell and Brittany Engel; one great-grandson, Kayden Russell Gustafson; two sisters, Evelyn Carr of Spring Valley, and Joan Engel of Stewartville; one brother, Raymond Engel of Neillsville, Wisconsin; and two sisters-in-law, Mary Engel of Monroe, North Carolina, and Barb Engel of Stewartville.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Don Engel and Jerry Engel, and sister-in-law, Rosie Engel.
The funeral service for Dick will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville with Rev. Byron Meline officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville.
A time of visitation for family and friends will take place from 12:30 p.m. to the time of service at the church on Sunday. Masks will be required, and safe social distancing protocols will be in place.
Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Dick are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com
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