John R. Engels

John R. Engels, of Juneau, passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born November 28, 1938 in Fond du Lac, the son of Arthur and Mayme Engels. He spent his youth on the family farm near Armstrong, WI. John attended Mitchell Grade School and later Our Lady of Angels Catholic School, where he was a member of the first graduating class. After graduating from Campbellsport High School, John joined the United States Navy, where he served as a submariner aboard the USS Sea Poacher from 1956 to 1958. On August 12, 1961, he married Rosalie Wettstein at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Eden, WI. In 1964, the family moved to Juneau, WI, where John worked as an agency manager, regional manager and agent with Rural Mutual Insurance Companies and the Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. He became a Chartered Life Underwriter in 1985 and throughout his career received many honors and awards for his hard work and dedication to the clients he served. In 2006, John retired after 43 years of service in the insurance industry. John took an active role in the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, serving as president in 2001. He was a long-standing member of the Juneau Lions Club since 1964. John held many offices in the club, started the Medical Equipment Project as well as served on the Lions Eye Bank Program. In 2001, John was named a Melvin Jones Fellow, the highest form of recognition conferred by the Lions Club. In 2004 John was presented with the Morry Mountin Community Service Award. In 2005 John received the Dodge County Farm Bureau Friend of the Year Award. He served on the Planning and Development Committee for the City of Juneau. John was an active member of Immaculate Conception Church in Juneau and later Sacred Heart Parish in Horicon where he served as a trustee, greeter and Eucharistic minister. John was a well-respected, successful, honest and hard-working man. He loved his family, country and community. Throughout the years, he loved watching his children and later his grandchildren participate in any sports event or school activity. He was so proud of all of them. John carried with him many fond memories of times spent enjoying the outdoors at the family property at Black River Falls. The time spent there brought him peace, joy and a legacy for his family and their friends. He will be deeply missed, never forgotten and always loved. Those left behind to honor his memory include his wife Rosalie, four children, Jan (Mike) Gross of Oakfield, Tim (Jill) Engels of Lake Mills, Bob (Loralee) Engels of Appleton and Jim (Karen) Engels of Juneau, treasured grandchildren, Andrew, Steven, Kaitlin and Matthew Gross, Corrine, Brett and Allison Engels and Nicholas and Kyle Engels. He is further survived by 3 step-grandchildren, Jason (Kellie) Christian, Justin (Holly) Christian and Jonathan Christian, and 3 step-great-grandchildren, Daniel and Hailey Christian and Ethan Christian, his sister Joyce (Tony) Goebel of Eden. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Justin Engels, and his sister, Mary Burns. Visitation will be held Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 3-6 PM at Sacred Heart Parish, with Prayer Vigil at 6 PM. Visitation also Monday, May 21 from 9:30 – 11 AM, also at Sacred Heart Parish. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 AM. Rev. Mike Petrie will officiate. Interment Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Juneau. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial to Hillside Hospice, American Cancer Society of Sacred Heart Parish. The Berndt-Ledesma Funeral Home is serving the family.

John R. Engels

November 28, 1938 - May 15, 2012