Gerald Engel
Gerald F. Engel, 90, of Grand Island, Nebraska, former resident of Grant, Neb., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017 at Grand Island Veterans Home.
Gerald was born on Aug. 19, 1927, to William and Grace Engel in Keith County, Neb. The family moved to the farm in Perkins County in 1929. He attended District No. 62 country school before attending Perkins County High School, where he participated in band, football and FFA. Gerald graduated with the Class of 1947.
Following his education, Gerald worked for the Pankonin Bros. for a year before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in January of 1948.
Following his honorable discharge in 1951, Gerald was employed at the Boeing Bomber Plant in Wichita, Kan., until 1954. He then returned to Grant and opened Engel Radio & TV as a tv/radio repairman in April of 1954.
Gerald was a longtime member of the Grant Volunteer Fire Department, the Grant Lions Club and the American Legion Post No. 40. He served as commander of the Legion Post in 1968 and 1969.
Gerald became a member of the Grant Lions Club in 1957. Gerald had been very active in the Boy Scouts since 1960 and served as district commissioner in 1969. He was a member of the Grant Chamber of Commerce and was secretary/treasurer in 1962. Gerald became a member of Zion Lutheran Church in 1967.
In 2012, Gerald moved to the Grand Island Veterans Home.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Grace Engel; three brothers, William, Max and Harold Engel; three sisters, Maxine Hall, Edith Rasco and Ruth Joosten; two sisters-in-law, Agnes Engel and Nancy Engel; two brothers-in-law, Wally Hall and Tex Rasco; nephew Timothy Engel and great nephew Moses Simpson.
Survivors include his two brothers, Fred and wife Pat Engel of Grant, and Paul Engel of Westminster, Calif.; one brother-in-law Doug Joosten of River Falls, Wis.; 12 nephews, 11 nieces, numerous great nieces, great nephews and cousins.
Memorials are suggested to the Grant Volunteer Fire Department in Gerald’s memory. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com.
Services were held on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Grant with Pastor Ben Francisco officiating. Burial with military honors was at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant was in charge of arrangements.