In Memory Of
Merle Franklin Engelke
1934
2023
Merle Franklin Engelke
January 20, 1934 — June 22, 2023
Merle Franklin Engelke, 89, of Topeka, passed away and went to be with our Lord and Savior at 2:40 pm on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his family.
Merle was born January 20, 1934, after his twin sister, Marlene Frances Rockey, to Henry Theodore and Lorena Grace (Hixon) Engelke in Tecumseh. The doctor came to their rural home, and because Merle was a surprise birth, his first crib was a drawer. Merle married Anita Faith Cook on June 16, 1957, in Baldwin City. She survives. They recently celebrated their 66th anniversary with their family.
Merle attended Decker Grade School, a one-room schoolhouse in Tecumseh, through eighth grade. Merle attended Highland Park High School, where he played football and had the nickname, "Tuffy". He was a member of the 1952 graduation class, the first class graduating from the new high school. Merle attended Washburn University. In 1957, he joined the Army Reserves and was a PFC at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. He also worked at The Railway Ice Company and on the Kansas Turnpike. Merle loved working outside and managed both row crops and cattle (he liked to name his cows) on the family farm in Tecumseh. In 1995, Merle retired after 35 years as a Sheet Metal Worker from the Topeka Santa Fe Railway Shops. Wherever he worked, Merle always enjoyed the challenge of fixing things.
Merle was a lifelong fan of KU Jayhawk basketball and Kansas City Chiefs football. He loved watching all the games with his family. After retirement, he enjoyed many clubs and activities including Strato Jets Square Dance Club, New Beginnings Senior Choir, Cub Scout Den Leader, water walking at the YMCA, yoga classes, Santa Fe Old Timer's Club, National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees (NARVRE), and the Topeka Santa Fe & BNSF Retired Employees Club. Merle enjoyed talking to everyone he met; he never knew a stranger.
Merle was full of energy for life and enjoyed all the beauty of the outdoors. Merle and Anita loved traveling to new places with their family. They enjoyed tent camping and later, 5th-wheel RV camping. His favorite place to visit was Colorado. Merle appreciated learning about history as well. He always stopped to read all the historical markers along the way. They visited all 50 states and beyond.
To Merle, family was most important. He loved his children. He enjoyed attending all his children's band and vocal concerts, theater productions, tennis matches and other sporting events. Later in life, he loved watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up.
Merle is a charter member of Shawnee Heights United Methodist Church (Tecumseh) and is a current member of First United Methodist Church (Topeka).
Besides his wife, Merle is survived by one son, John Alan Engelke of Overland Park; two daughters, Debra Ann (Phillip J.) Olsson of Topeka, and Diana Lee (David) Brosa of Tecumseh; and four grandchildren, Darron (Ashley) Berroth and Ashlyn (Joel) Geels of Topeka; Alicia (Cory) Duff of Odebolt, Iowa; and Paul Votaw of Cedar City, Utah. Merle was "Great Papa" to eight great grandchildren, Landon Berroth, Brinley Berroth, Jacob Geels, Lucas Geels, Ava Faith Geels, James Duff, Elliot Duff, and Colin Duff. Merle is also survived by one nephew, Bryan (Kristi) Rockey of Topeka, son of his twin sister.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Claude Willard Engelke; and his twin sister, Marlene Frances Rockey.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023 at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Mid-Town Chapel, Topeka. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 1, 2023 at First United Methodist Church, Topeka. Graveside services will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sutton Cemetery, Baldwin City.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church of Topeka, 600 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66603 or the Topeka Rescue Mission, PO Box 8350, Topeka, KS 66608.
To leave a message for Merle's family, please visit the guestbook below.
To view the service, please visit https://boxcast.tv/channel/joq7eul06lhfaxxmkoh5?b=ycjujewngev8ykpyc7so
Merle was born January 20, 1934, after his twin sister, Marlene Frances Rockey, to Henry Theodore and Lorena Grace (Hixon) Engelke in Tecumseh. The doctor came to their rural home, and because Merle was a surprise birth, his first crib was a drawer. Merle married Anita Faith Cook on June 16, 1957, in Baldwin City. She survives. They recently celebrated their 66th anniversary with their family.
Merle attended Decker Grade School, a one-room schoolhouse in Tecumseh, through eighth grade. Merle attended Highland Park High School, where he played football and had the nickname, "Tuffy". He was a member of the 1952 graduation class, the first class graduating from the new high school. Merle attended Washburn University. In 1957, he joined the Army Reserves and was a PFC at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. He also worked at The Railway Ice Company and on the Kansas Turnpike. Merle loved working outside and managed both row crops and cattle (he liked to name his cows) on the family farm in Tecumseh. In 1995, Merle retired after 35 years as a Sheet Metal Worker from the Topeka Santa Fe Railway Shops. Wherever he worked, Merle always enjoyed the challenge of fixing things.
Merle was a lifelong fan of KU Jayhawk basketball and Kansas City Chiefs football. He loved watching all the games with his family. After retirement, he enjoyed many clubs and activities including Strato Jets Square Dance Club, New Beginnings Senior Choir, Cub Scout Den Leader, water walking at the YMCA, yoga classes, Santa Fe Old Timer's Club, National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees (NARVRE), and the Topeka Santa Fe & BNSF Retired Employees Club. Merle enjoyed talking to everyone he met; he never knew a stranger.
Merle was full of energy for life and enjoyed all the beauty of the outdoors. Merle and Anita loved traveling to new places with their family. They enjoyed tent camping and later, 5th-wheel RV camping. His favorite place to visit was Colorado. Merle appreciated learning about history as well. He always stopped to read all the historical markers along the way. They visited all 50 states and beyond.
To Merle, family was most important. He loved his children. He enjoyed attending all his children's band and vocal concerts, theater productions, tennis matches and other sporting events. Later in life, he loved watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up.
Merle is a charter member of Shawnee Heights United Methodist Church (Tecumseh) and is a current member of First United Methodist Church (Topeka).
Besides his wife, Merle is survived by one son, John Alan Engelke of Overland Park; two daughters, Debra Ann (Phillip J.) Olsson of Topeka, and Diana Lee (David) Brosa of Tecumseh; and four grandchildren, Darron (Ashley) Berroth and Ashlyn (Joel) Geels of Topeka; Alicia (Cory) Duff of Odebolt, Iowa; and Paul Votaw of Cedar City, Utah. Merle was "Great Papa" to eight great grandchildren, Landon Berroth, Brinley Berroth, Jacob Geels, Lucas Geels, Ava Faith Geels, James Duff, Elliot Duff, and Colin Duff. Merle is also survived by one nephew, Bryan (Kristi) Rockey of Topeka, son of his twin sister.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Claude Willard Engelke; and his twin sister, Marlene Frances Rockey.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023 at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Mid-Town Chapel, Topeka. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 1, 2023 at First United Methodist Church, Topeka. Graveside services will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sutton Cemetery, Baldwin City.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church of Topeka, 600 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66603 or the Topeka Rescue Mission, PO Box 8350, Topeka, KS 66608.
To leave a message for Merle's family, please visit the guestbook below.
To view the service, please visit https://boxcast.tv/channel/joq7eul06lhfaxxmkoh5?b=ycjujewngev8ykpyc7so
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Merle Franklin Engelke, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Friday, June 30, 2023
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel
Guestbook
Visits: 2
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