ENGEBRETSON, Rex Clemons

ENGEBRETSON, CLEMONS, SPRINGER, MESSELHEISER, HOPKEY, BIEDENBACH, JURGENS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/28/2014 at 22:21:01

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Obituary - Rex Clemons Engebretson
March 07, 1926 ~ October 08, 2011

Rex Clemons Engebretson, 85, of Thornton, joined his Lord on Saturday, October 08, 2011, at the Sheffield Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Monday at the First United Methodist in Thornton with the Reverend Rose Calderon-Khan officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Thornton. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 pm Sunday at the First United Methodist Church in Thornton. Memorials may be directed to the Sheffield Care Center, Sheffield, Iowa.

Rex's family thanks everyone at the Care Center for the warm and wonderful care he received while living there.

Rex was born March 7, 1926 in Cerro Gordo County, the son of Harry and Aline (Clemons) Engebretson. Rex received Christian baptism and became a member of the First United Methodist Church of Thornton. He graduated from Thornton High School in 1943. Rex married Eleanor Springer on Valentine's Day 1951 at the Methodist parsonage in Mason City and they lived their entire 56 years together on their farm on the south edge of Thornton. To this union three children were born, Becky (Dean) Messelheiser of San Antonio, TX, Nan(Kevin) Jurgens and Scott (Christy) Engebretson of Thornton and two children from Eleanor's marriage to Delane Springer, who died in 1949; Barbara (Mike) Hopkey and Roger (Linda) Engebretson; 15 grandchildren feel very blessed to call Rex –Grandpa, Lon (Deb) Hopkey of Ankeny, Erin (David) Biedenbach of Ames, Cory (Tammy) Engebretson of Polk City, Jeremy (Michelle) Engebretson of Chaska, MN, Nick (Nikki) Engebretson of Aurora, CO, Landon (Lea) Messelheiser of Anchorage, AK, Matt Messelheiser of Spangdahlen AFB, Germany, Emily Messelheiser of San Antonio, TX, Sheldon (Michelle) Jurgens of Sheffield, Ashley (Chris) Lorenz of Ankeny, Jordan Jurgens, of Ames, Spencer Jurgens of Meservey, Kara Engebretson of Indianola, Cody and Drew Engebretson of Thornton. Rex's youngest treasures are his 16 great-grandchildren, Evan and Ethan Hopkey of Ankeny, Alex, Carter and Nate Biedenbach of Ames, Logan, Cale, Luke and Elyse Engebretson of Polk City, Emma, Lucy and Sophie Engebretson of Chaska, MN, Soren and Rowen Engebretson of Aurora, CO, and Cole and Wyatt Messelheiser of Anchorage, AK.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law; and wife, Eleanor.

Rex was a member of the Board of Directors at the Thornton Cooperative for nine year, Commander of the Thornton Legion for several years and also on the firing squad for 60 years. He was a member of the Thornton Lions Club and served on the Thornton School Board. Rex's claim to fame was the turkey callers that he made and shared with anyone who he could talk into trying one, and it was many. He was the King of selling raffle tickets for every fundraiser in the area. He was his children's, grand-children's and great-grand-children's biggest fan and rarely missed any of their ballgames. Rex enjoyed accumulating treasures and antiques, including tractors, farm toys and many other "interesting" items. His grandchildren loved his "junkyard" in the back grove.

Retz Funeral Home Thornton retzfh.com

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2014