Engelking, Harold

ENGELKING, JORGENSEN, WITTENBURG

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes
Date: 12/23/2018 at 16:27:02

The Southern Illinoisan
April 14, 2013

CARBONDALE - Harold F. Engelking, 93, passed away March 30, 2013, in Naperville.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Evelyn; and daughters, Connie Jorgensen (Eric) and Elana Wittenburg (Bob); grandchildren, Lynn and Mike; and two great-grandchildren.

He was interred April 4, 2013, in Oak Hill Cemetery in Mount Carroll.

Harold was born in Mount Carroll and maintained contact with relatives and friends in the area his whole life. He graduated from Mount Carroll High School in 1937, and then attended Blackburn College. He received his bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Illinois in 1941 and his master's from the University of Illinois in 1947.

It was while he was in the Air Force Training Corp in Lincoln, Neb., in 1942 that he met his wife, Evelyn.

Harold had a successful and varied career beginning as a vocational agriculture teacher and supervisor for the state of Illinois. He then moved on to become a Regional Sales Manager for the Cargill Company residing in Grinnell, Iowa, for four years. In 1966 he joined the faculty of SIU Carbondale, where he lived until moving to Naperville in 2010. While at SIU, he was a member of an SIU faculty team that spent two years in Brazil working on projects sponsored by the United Nations, an experience that he remembered fondly. He was appointed to the state fair advisory board and served on the advisory council for Young Farmers. He was the author of numerous articles that were published in national magazines. After retiring from SIU, he spent 10 years as a tour guide with Presley Tours, an avocation perfectly suited to his outgoing personality.

Harold was an avid gardener, golfer, bridge player, and politico; he intensely followed national and local political campaigns throughout his life and was always ready to discuss moments in history and their impact. He served on the Republican committee for Jackson County; as an elder in Presbyterian Church; and was a lifelong member of Elks.

His many friends will remember Harold as an always smiling, warm, gregarious gentleman.

A memorial service celebrating Harold's life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in First Presbyterian Church in Carbondale.

Law-Jones Funeral Home in Carroll is in charge of arrangements.

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NOTE: Harold's daughter, Elana was in my high school class in Grinnell, Iowa.