Marilyn J. Engle

Marilyn Engle died peacefully on Sunday May 25, 2025, in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Richard Engle, daughters Rachel Engle (Walt Scoggins), Rebecca Spears (Kurt), Ruth Larner (Joel), and Naomi Engle (Jon Pratt), grandchildren Kyla, Kristi, Alyssa, Nick, Briana, Jake, Jonathan, KayLynn, Alec, Wynnona, Rory, and Musetta, great-grandchildren Evan, Jude, Annabelle, Anaiya, Sam, Emilia, Rowan and Amos, nieces Debbie, Kathy, Jeri-Ann and Pam, nephews Ronnie and Doug, and many grand-nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Iola (Bartlett) Lewis, sister Linda (Lewis) Woodard Cornell, brother Jerrell Lewis, and nephew Mike Woodard.

A memorial service will be held on August 3, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Grace United Methodist Church in Sioux City, Iowa.

Marilyn Joy Lewis was born on a farm near Rockport, Missouri in 1934. The family moved to another farm in Decatur County, Iowa when she was three years old, adding a sister and 13 years later a brother. She attended a one-room country schoolhouse through 8th grade where she had a teacher who recognized her quick intellect and accelerated her learning, which was easy to do in a one-room school. She often rode her horse Daisy bareback to school, then let her find her way back to the farm. Daisy was her best friend, and they would find a quiet woodland edging the fields where they could spend a summer afternoon when Marilyn was not busy tending chicks and ducks or the garden or later learning to drive the tractor.

By the time she started high school, the family had moved to Leon, Iowa where she graduated in 1953. Her intention had been to follow a traditional path for a girl at that time and study home economics in college, but her high-school science teacher saw a spark and her thirst for knowledge and convinced her to major in Chemical Engineering at Iowa State College in Ames. This is where she met fellow engineering student Richard (Dick) Engle who was to become her husband. They were married the day after she graduated in 1958. She enjoyed telling stories about their student years together in Ames – experiencing eating pizza for the first time, working on theater and concert productions, sneaking back into the dorm after curfew, and surviving tough classes. They became life-long Cyclone fans, cheering on the football and basketball teams throughout the years.

Dick and Marilyn made their first home in Davenport, Iowa, where their eldest daughter, Rachel, was born. After moving to Sioux City, Iowa, they had three more daughters, Rebecca, Ruth and Naomi. Marilyn put her scientific mind and creativity to work, opening a Montessori-based pre-school for the neighborhood children for several years. Once her daughters were old enough, she established a 4-H club for them, just as her own mother had done for her. Through the years she led this club, teaching many girls how to bake and sew and keep meticulous record books. Her contributions to 4-H included working at county, state and national levels, and she was honored with the State 4-H Alumni Recognition Award for her more than 25 years of involvement.

Teaching came naturally to Marilyn. When her daughters wanted to learn violin, she found a Suzuki Method teacher and joined the parents' group, learning to play the violin herself in order to be an excellent practice coach for their music studies. At Grace United Methodist Church, she and Dick taught 7th grade Sunday School for 15 years, coming up with innovative ways of making the lessons memorable and fun for easily distracted teens. For the next 15 years, they led an adult Bible study class, coordinating discussion that incorporated information from historical, archeological and Biblical studies.

The family enjoyed long cross-country road trips every summer, camping along the way. Marilyn enjoyed hikes and nature walks and made numerous backpacking trips with the family – as long as Dick did all the cooking, she was game to carry a pack and sleep in a tent. Later, Marilyn and Dick's travels included international destinations. Many of those were on Prairie Home Companion cruises, in the company of Garrison Keillor and friends. In 2008, Dick and Marilyn brought the whole family on a tour of Turkey, where Dick had been working on archeology projects. We celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Ankara, dining on delicious local dishes and dancing to traditional Turkish music.

Back at home in Sioux City, Marilyn decided to become a professional volunteer, putting her organizational and teaching skills to use. She spent several years in the early 1980s researching desktop computers which were becoming available and installing them to be used by the church for finance and membership records. She dedicated 10 years to being the church office coordinator and assistant to the minister. Marilyn's church work extended to the state level, being part of committees that advised the Iowa Methodist Conference bishop. She also volunteered with the local Hospice organization, spending time with patients, and recording their thoughts and stories.

When Dick retired, he and Marilyn established the Engle Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization that provides grants to charities. She started a program through email correspondence for her grandchildren, teaching them financial responsibility and budgeting. She was satisfied to have ideas and lessons to pass on to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to be very involved in her "cohesive, harmonious family". With her computer knowledge, she was a resource for her friends, helping them develop skills and troubleshoot computer issues. When asked by a grandchild about happiness and satisfaction in life she replied, "I live on the premise that life gets continually better, and it has… I've learned so much". Her 50-year membership in PEO expanded her interest in supporting education to young women world-wide.

During the course of Marilyn's life she overcame many health challenges, surviving five bouts of cancer and a stroke. In 2018, Dick and Marilyn moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where they could be closer to their daughters. She enjoyed seven years of family togetherness in Colorado before entering the last phase of her life. With the help of Hospice care, she was at home surrounded by her family with her husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all spending time with her. We shared music, stories and laughter as we took turns gathering around the bedside. She greeted us all by name and with her beautiful smile, telling each "You are so good!" We all felt it was an honor to usher her to the end of her joyful life.