Irv Engelhardt

ENGELHARDT, IRV 85, - of Tucson, AZ, passed away at his home on August 7, 2008. He was born on August 2, 1923 in Egg Harbor City. Irv is survived by his wife Barbara Peterson Engelhardt; sister Helen Drinkard; sons Gary and wife Pam; Don and wife Camille; Steve and wife Tina; Pat; and daughter Maribeth and husband Mike; 11 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Irv grew up in Egg Harbor City, the youngest of nine children. He attended St. Nicholas School, Egg Harbor High School, and Atlantic City Trade School, where he trained as a printing pressman and played football and basketball. He became a Journeyman Printer and worked for the Atlantic City Press, Parade, and other daily papers in the Philadelphia area. Irv also played on the Egg Harbor Minks, a semi-pro baseball team. He was a proud WWII veteran serving in the Army Air Force as an aerial gunner on a B-24. He participated in the Normandy Campaign and received the European, African, and Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbons, two Bronze Stars and a WWII Victory Medal. He loved his country and often asked his children, "Aren't we lucky to live in America?" As a lector at St. Nicholas Church, Irv sang and read scripture during Masses. He was also a Sunday bus driver for St. Nicholas and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Irv and Barb moved to Tucson in 1982. For many years during the summer, they traveled the U.S. visiting their children and selling funnel cakes or face painting at state fairs and local celebrations. At some events, Irv wore a clown costume and played with kids and parents as Barb painted faces. Irv was a volunteer bus driver for the Tucson Veterans Hospital, taking fellow veterans to and from the hospital for appointments. In his final years, Irv played shuffleboard in his community of Tucson Estates, often sending trophies he had won to his children. Irv sang old songs with his family and ate meals out with a group of senior-citizen friends, The Wild Bunch. Irv loved kids - especially his own - and while they were playing sports he rarely missed their football, basketball, or baseball games. Irv excelled at fatherhood and made people smile. He never forgot to say, "Thank you." His family wants to say, "Thank you, Irv. Having you in our lives made us better people." Services were private, and donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.