John H Engel

John H. Engel was born June 8, 1918 to John and Louise (Bearman) Engel north of Vernon on a chicken ranch.  He was baptized in the Vernon Lutheran Church.

At the age of two when his mother died, John was taken in by Anna and George Hadlock at their home southwest of Vernon. He attended Hope School, which was a two room school until the 8th grade.

On his 18th birthday the Hadlocks gave John four horses that came from a ranch in Wyoming.  John had to break the horses to work on the ranch.

On October 1942, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned to the farm.

John married Anna Deterts on January 17, 1946 in St. Francis, KS.  They farmed until 1961 when they moved to Wray.   He then went to work for Wray Oil Company where he drove a propane truck for 19 1/2 years. John the delivered mail in the Vernon/Idalia and Hale areas.  He also worked in the wheat fields during harvest season.

John was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, American Legion and served in the Color Guard for approximately   60 years. He was also a charter member of the Wray Elks Club.

John was preceded in death by his parents,sister Tillie and husband Harry Andrews, sister Clara and husband Earnest Wingfield, sister Helen and husband Earl Newton, sister Margaret and husband Hugh Harris, and brothers Ed Engel and Fred Engel, half brother Carl Engel and half sister Marie Beaumont.

John is survived by his wife Anna of 66 years, half sister Martha Klinzmann, sisters-in-law Ruth Engel, Helen Brown and Louise Brower, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on Friday, December 7, 2012, 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Wray, Colorado 2ith Pastor Glen Kline officiating. Interment was held in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. Memorials may be made to Hillcrest Care Center, P.O. Box 100, Wray, Colorado 80758.