Marvin F Engel

Marvin Frank Engel died in Fairbury, NE. on August 21, 2016. He was born on February 11, 1924 to William (Bill) and Augusta (Virus) Engel in Thayer County, NE. He was baptized and confirmed in Grace Lutheran Church in Hebron, NE.

He graduated from Hebron High School in 1941 and attended the Hebron Jr. College for one year before entering the navy in September 1943. He was a radioman in the pacific theater during WWII. Upon return, he attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA and graduated in 1949. He married Leora Willems in Gilead, NE on June 5, 1949.

Marvin spent 25 years as a teacher and principal at Peace Lutheran School in Deshler NE, 20 years working for the city of Fairbury, and another 25 years at WalMart in Fairbury.

While in Deshler, Marv coached two state champion Midget baseball teams in 1953 and 1954 and two state champion spellers, Sharon Gerdes and Jennifer Reinke. Jennifer went on to win the National Spelling Bee in 1967.

He was an organist for churches in Deshler and Fairbury and taught piano for many years.

In Fairbury, Marvin was a member of Kiwanis, Elks, American Legion, and was a Gideon. He was instrumental in starting the Community Concert series and a driving force behind the design of the baseball and softball complex. He was best known for his joke telling and his love of the Chicago Cubs.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, brother Lavern and his wife Eleanor, brother Don and his wife Wilma, and brother-in-law Richard Johnson.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Leora, sons Duane and Dennis, daughters Debra (Brad) Bader and Denise (Kimo) Bannister, 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, brother Louis Engel and sister Mary Ann Johnson.

Services will be at 10:30 am Saturday, August 27, 2016 at the American Lutheran Church in Fairbury with Pastor Brian Julin-McCleary officiating. The family will greet friends Friday August 26th from 6 to 8 pm at the American Lutheran Church at 1111 12th street in Fairbury. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Hebron, NE.