Helen D. Engelmann, 91, of Green Isle
Helen D. Engelmann, 91, of Green Isle, died Friday, May 4, 2018, at Golden Hearts Assisted Living in Arlington.
Funeral services are today (Wednesday, May 9), at 11 a.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hamburg with the Rev. Mark Triplett officiating. Visitation was Tuesday and continues today (Wednesday) for one hour prior to the service at the church.
Casket bearers are Bruce Buckentin, Ronnie Engelmann, Nancy Freese, Don “Hoppy” Mehlhop, Stan Panning and Rhonda Powers. Interment will be in the Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Hamburg.
Helen Engelmann was born May 27, 1926, in Sibley County, the daughter of Dietrich and Sophie (Oelfke) Mehlhop. She was baptized and confirmed at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hamburg. On June 30, 1946, she was united in marriage to Milton Engelmann at Emanuel.
She received her education at Emanuel Lutheran School. When she was 17, her father passed away suddenly, so it was up to her and her mother to tend to the farm in Green Isle. After her marriage, the couple made their home on the family farm, and her mother continued to live with them. The marriage was blessed with three children, Maureen, Richard and Alan. Mrs. Engelmann often talked about how much she enjoyed farming alongside her husband, especially milking the cows and caring for baby pigs in the cold winter.
Soon after Mr. Engelmann invented the portable feed mixer, they hired help to run the farm and focus shifted to the new business. When the business moved into Green Isle, they moved from the farm to a new home nearby. Shortly after, Mr. Engelmann died unexpectedly at the age of 43. Mrs. Engelmann continued to raise their children as well as operate The Club New Yorker until it was sold. She survived cancer the first time in 2003. In 2008, she lost her son Richard when he was just 54.
Mrs. Engelmann was a lifelong member of Emanuel Lutheran Church, where she volunteered for the ladies aid and did canning at school. She was in a bowling league with her friends. Her favorite pastimes included playing solitaire, sewing and patching, tending to the lawn, caring for her geraniums, bird watching from the porch and listening to classic country music, especially Charley Pride. She was an avid Twins fan and loved driving around watching the crop planting and checking the harvest. She cherished time spent with her family, including many road trips to several states with her son Al, a favorite of which was Branson. Her greatest joys were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who always brought a big smile to her face.
When she could no longer care for herself at home, she moved to Golden Hearts, where she lived until her death.
She is survived by her loving family: daughter, Maureen (Alan) Albrecht of Hamburg; son, Alan Engelmann (Janet Thoele) of Green Isle; daughter-in-law, Roxanne Engelmann of Green Isle; grandchildren, Stacy (Tom) Brolin of Victoria, Jamie Engelmann (Kort Meyer) of Green Isle and Sammie Jo Engelmann (Bruce Kranz) of Hamburg; great-grandchildren, Miles Kranz, Zakary Brolin, Annika Brolin and Jesse Brolin; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by husband, Milton; son, Richard Engelmann; parents, Dietrich and Sophie Mehlhop; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Ida Engelmann; two infant siblings; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Herbert and Eldora Engelmann, Gilbert and Esther Engelmann, Norwin Engelmann and Vernon and Delores Engelmann.
Arrangements are with the Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia, www.johnsonfh.com.
