EARL RUSSELL ENGEL

1923 - 2011

Earl Russell Engel died at the age of 87 in Mt Vernon, Washington, on March 19, 2011. He was with family as he passed. Earl had a full life since his birth as an only child, in Manchester, Connecticut to Hans and Anna Engel on September 9, 1923.

Going into the Navy in World War II, Earl was first a Gunner's Mate as an armed guard, on the Merchant Marine Ships, in the European Theater. In the second part of WW II, Earl was in the Pacific Theater as a Gunner's Mate near Okinawa.

After the war, Earl and his life-long buddy, Bob Turkington, Bob's wife Carolyn and two other friends, changed their lives forever. Driving 1930 and 1931 Model A Fords, pulling trailers, the five friends drove up the Alkan Highway. The final destination was Homer, Alaska, arriving in 1949.

After a short time of homesteading, Earl ended up back where he was most comfortable, on a boat and on the water. He fished first with Vaino Salo on the "Shirls" in 1950. Later he had his own Port Graham boat and commercial fished for salmon for many years.
Earl met and married a local girl, Evelyn Faulk in December 1950. They were a team until her death in 2007, raising three children, Jerry, Judy and Pat. Evelyn and Jerry fished with Earl every summer.

In winters, Earl and Bob bought two bulldozers and started Turkington and Engel Construction. This was the beginning of a new career that took him away from the sea; eventually he started working as a Superintendent in Heavy Construction. He worked with companies building roads, bridges and airports until he retired. He loved this work just as much as he loved the boats. One of his jobs took him back to Okinawa being a part of building the Kedena airport with Pomeroy M-B Construction.

Earl and Evelyn moved to Stanwood Washington in 1979 although he commuted back and forth to Alaska until he retired in the mid 80's. They were the hub of family gatherings, for birthdays, holidays, picnics, and horse shows. Family and friends were the most important thing to Earl. In 2006 Earl and Evelyn moved to LaConner to be closer to most of the family.

Those who knew Earl at any stage in his life would agree that he was a good and kind man, a gentleman beyond words. Honesty, honor, patriot, gentle, loving, with a strong code of ethics; these are only a few of the words to describe Earl. His love and devotion for his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his friends was solid and unwavering.

Preceding Earl in death, were his parents, Hans and Anna Engel, his grandson Roger Engel, his wife Evelyn and his daughter Patricia Hagen.
Earl is survived by his son Jerry Engel, his daughter Judy Taipale, thirteen grandchildren and their spouses, twenty great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, ten nieces and nephews and many dear close friends.

There will be a memorial at Sea, in the San Juans, later in the Spring, when family boats can gather. In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest donating to those less fortunate or to the Red Cross.