Frank B. Engel

Frank Berton Engel, 75, of Wray, Colorado lost his 10 year battle to terminal cancer at 1:41 AM on Friday March 23, 2018. He passed away at Anschutz University of Colorado Health in Aurora, Colorado with many loved ones at his side.

Frank was born September 27, 1942 in Denver, Colorado to Henry and Clarice Engel. He was welcomed home by his half-brother Neil Ellis. Frank had his first train ride with his parents when they brought him home after being discharged from Colorado General Hospital.

Frank attended country school North of Wray until the 3 ^rd grade. He then finished his education while attending the Wray Public Schools and he graduated with the Class of 1961. Frank loved wrestling and was a State Champion in 1960 and a State Runner-Up in 1961. After graduation he attended Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado.

Frank married Cheryl Stults, and to this union three children were born Kevin, Mark, and DeNae. In 1971, Deb Rehfeld, age 5, became an integral part of his family at the farm, raising her as his own daughter.

In 1980, he met the love of his life, Mary and her three young children Chad age 5, Dondi age 4, and Shanda age 2. After seven years of courting her they were married May 15, 1987 at the Wray United Methodist Church.

Frank was a hardworking man of many trades. After college he worked at Martin Marietta. That was then followed by 10 years of retail meats in Denver. He moved back to Wray in 1971 and leased Engel Pack and Sporting Goods from his parents. He purchased the packing plant in July of 1976. In December of 1976 he purchased the farm, which was later named the Blackwolf Family Trust. Frank and Mary became a team in 1980. They worked together at Engel Pack and Sporting Goods and additionally added Engel Poultry Processing and Engel Nursery. Their teamwork continued at home on the farm, 12 miles south of Wray, as well. They farmed and ranched, with their children, throughout the years. This included growing wheat and feed as well as raising animals including buffalo, llamas, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and poultry.

Frank is survived by his wife Mary; son Kevin Engel with his two children David and Sydney; son Mark Engel his wife Tammy and children Jade, Mason, and Myles; daughter DeNae Mack her husband Paul and children Britney and Tony; daughter Deb Rehfeld; son Chad Sheridan his children Seth and wife Jada, Jared, Ethan, Charlie, and Masyl; daughter Dondi Earle her husband Emerson and child Kai; and daughter Shanda McAllister her husband Zachary and children Nick and Matt. Frank is also survived by one great-granddaughter Saya Lynn Sheridan aka “Poppy’s Pete”. She has resided with them on the farm since she was born.

Frank was preceded in death by his father Henry Engel and mother Clarice Engel; his grandparents Frank and Maggie Engel and Cyrus and Pearl Hammell; As well as his beloved first and second in-laws Oscar and Alvina Stults and Charlie and Masyl Sheridan.

Services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Wray, Colorado at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday March 28, 2018. Officiating the service will be Rev. Ben Wentworth and friend Rev. Norman Stott of Port Aransas, Texas. The family will have a private burial at the Blackwolf Family Trust Burial Site. Serving as Pallbearers are Frank’s nine grandsons: David Engel, Nick Engel, Seth Sheridan, Jared Sheridan, Ethan Sheridan, Matt Yost, Kai Earle, Mason Engel, and Myles Engel along with two acquired grandsons Zachary Bowman and Trevor Buchanan. Honorary Pallbearers are Jack Renaud Niwott, Colorado; Coach Bob Smith Hudson, Colorado; Brent Deterding Wray, Colorado; and Everrett Aurbeck Strasburg, Colorado.

Visitation of FRIENDS will be Tuesday March 27, 2018 from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. and FAMILY from 8 A.M. to 10 A.M. and 2 P.M. to 5 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Frank may be made to the Frank Engel Memorial Fund at First Pioneer National Bank 145 W. 4 ^th Street Wray, Colorado 80758.

Funeral arrangements were made under the direction of Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado. www.schmidt-jonesfh.com