George Allen Engle, Jr

Notes:

Obituary for George A. Engle Jr.

George Allen Engle, Jr was born to George and Phyllis (Kotas) Engle on July 14, 1948 in Geneva, Nebraska. George passed away on August 30, 2022 at the Fillmore County Hospital at the age of 74 years.

George grew up on the family farm at Rural Route 2 Box 52 three miles East of Geneva. He attended District 68 from kindergarten through 7th grade and then attended Geneva and graduated from Geneva High School in 1966. He worked at Lichti's TV and Appliance on main street and Ellison Oil in Geneva before being drafted. George was drafted in the Army in 1968 and served as a Military Police at Fort Riley until 1970. When he returned, he began to work on the family farm with his dad until 2014. George then worked at the Tree Dump for the City of Geneva until he hospitalized. He received his Quilt of Valor at the VFW on June 6, 2021. George was very proud that the Kotas/Engle Family Farm was awarded the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award this past July at the County Fair.
On February 7, 1970, George was united in marriage to Susan Kamler at St Mary Catholic Church in Shickley, NE. To this union 3 children were born. They made their home on a farm East of Geneva on Hwy 41 where they lived until moving back to the Engle family farm in 1974.

George was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a member of the High School FFA and the American Legion Post 68. George also had the love for softball and played the sport for many years after high school. When Jared and Jorden were shooting trap, George would always make sure they called him with how they did.

George was proceeded in death by his parents George and Phyllis; brother-in-law Tom Kamler; nephews Christopher and Kevin Kamler; mother and father-in-law William Jr and Phyllis Kamler

George is survived by wife Susan Engle; son Jim (Jean) Engle of Geneva; Rueben (Lisa) Engle of Clive Iowa; Crystal (Troy) Gulbrandson of York; Sisters Barb (Tom)Trapp of Geneva and Diane Engle of Geneva; grandchildren Lane (Valerie) Engle, Kailey Engle, Jared Engle, Jorden Engle and Savannah and Gabriella Gulbrandson; brothers-in-law Jim (Susan) Kamler, Richard (Sue) Kamler, sister-in-law Bonnie (Ron) Zelenka; brother-in-law Mike (Kim) Kamler; and many nieces and nephews

A Funeral Service for George will be held on Friday, September 2, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ with Kim Dunker presiding.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva, Nebraska.

Military Graveside Services will be conducted following the funeral service in the Geneva Public Cemetery in Geneva, Nebraska.

***The family requests that casual attire be worn to the funeral service for George***

Notes:

Obituary

Funeral services for George will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 10:00 AM at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Geneva with Pastor Diane Ryder officiating.

Visitation will begin on Friday, August 21, 2015 from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM with the family being present from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Farmer and Son Funeral Home in Geneva.

Memorials are to be directed to the family for a later designation.

Graveside services will be conducted from the Geneva Public Cemetery.

George Alexander Engle was born to Constantine (Alex) and Emma (Svehla) Engle on January 7,

1923 on the Svehla family farm near Exeter, NE and passed away on August 18, 2015 at Heritage Crossings in Geneva, NE at the age of 92 years 7 months and 11 days. He was the oldest of eight children in the family. George was raised on farms near Friend, Burress, Fairmont Airbase, and then 3 and a half miles east of Geneva, NE and was baptized September 19, 1923 at the home of his grandparents, Henry Engle. George became a member of the First Congregational Church on May 28, 1939. He attended country school District #85 and District #68 through the 8th grade and graduated from Geneva High School with the class of 1940. He started farming after graduation with his father who had started having failing health. George loved the farm life and also did custom bailing for 30+ years, custom combining, corn shelling, hauled cattle to Omaha to the Stockyards, sold cylinder bars, and wood shavings.

George was united in marriage to Phyllis Jean Kotas of Milligan, NE on April 25, 1946 at the Catholic Church in Milligan, NE and resided on a farm Northeast of Geneva, NE. They had three children, Diane L., George A. "Jr", and Barbara L. George and Phyllis lived on that farm for 28 years, and on August 1, 1974 they purchased the First Congregational Church parsonage in Geneva, NE and together with Diane they moved into their newly remodeled home on December 28, 1974. After moving to town George continued driving to the country to raise crops, livestock and later years shared a large garden with Phyllis. George and Phyllis would bake pies and take them and their vegetables to the farmers market. He enjoyed his daily trips to the Geneva Senior Center to have coffee and social gathering with his friends to express his opinion on any given topic of the day and was very appreciative when someone would send a little something home with him for Phyllis and Diane. George enjoyed restoring antique machinery and would travel to St. Joe, MO. with his friend, Norman Gates, to sell their restorations to the Amish.

George served his church on many board committees and as the Church Clerk. He also served on the ASC Board, Sutton Co-op Board, Farm Bureau Board, and the Pioneer Manor Board.
George and Phyllis celebrated their 25th, 40th, and 50th, anniversaries in Milligan with Czech music provided by their friend Dean Hansen. At their 40th anniversary celebration there was a surprise mock wedding performed by their family. They enjoyed going dancing every Sunday evening at the Pla-Mor Ballroom where they ended up making many dancing friends from all over.
George was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis, of 69 years; parents Constantine and Emma
Engle, brothers, Frank, Harold, and Willis Engle; sister, Anna Vnoucek; sisters-in-laws, Beth and Helen Engle; brothers-in-law, Ronald D. Uldrich, Donald Kotas, Frances (Fritz) Greenlee; niece, Debbie Wiltshire; nephews, Lawrence Engle, Herald Brian Wiltshire, Robert Kotas, and a great- niece, Kristin Engle.

George is survived by his son, George A. "Jr" and wife Susan, daughter, Diane L. Engle, and Barbara L. Trapp and husband Tom; sisters, Eleanor and husband Arlan Becker, Ruth and husband Delbert Sorge, and Mary L. Uldrich; brother-in-law, Joe A. Vnoucek; sisters-in-laws, Delmary Wiltshire, and Faye Greenlee; grandchildren, Loren Stephenson, Teresa and husband Herman Rodriguez, James and wife Jean Engle, Rueben and wife Lisa Engle, and Crystal Engle, 5 great- grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, copied from Farmer & Son Funeral Home website

George married Phyllis Jean Kotas on 25 Apr 1946 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Phyllis (daughter of Anton Edward Kotas, Jr. and Gertrude Deaver) was born on 20 Dec 1925 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 29 Jan 2015 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Geneva Public Cemetery, Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary

Phyllis J. Engle

Funeral services for Phyllis will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 10:30 AM at First Congregational United Church of Christ with Pastor Diane Ryder officiating.

Visitation will be begin on Monday, February 2, 2015 at 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva, NE.

Graveside services will be held in the Geneva Public Cemetery.

Memorials are to be directed to the family for a later designation.

Phyllis Jean Engle was born to Anton E. Kotas and Gertrude (Deaver) Kotas on December 20, 1925 at the family farm near Tobias, NE, and passed away January 29, 2015 at Heritage Crossings in Geneva, NE, at the age of 89 years, 1 month and 9 days. She was one of four children in the family.

Phyllis was born and raised on the family farm near Tobias, NE, and was baptized in the Catholic Faith as a child. She attended the Lone Star Country School through the 8th grade and graduated from Milligan High School in 1943. After high school she was employed at the Fairmont State Airbase.

Phyllis was united in marriage to George A. Engle of Geneva on April 25, 1946 and resided on a farm northeast of Geneva. After Phyllis married George, she joined the First Congregational Church. They had three children, Diane, George "Jr." and Barbara.

Phyllis was a quiet spoken lady and always found the good in everyone. She was a good cook, baker, and seamstress and loved her large garden.

George and Phyllis purchased the First Congregational Church parsonage on August 1, 1974 and together with Diane they moved in to town in December 1974. After moving to town Phyllis and Diane would drive to the country to raise baby chicks and a large garden.

She enjoyed dancing to Czech music. You could usually find George and Phyllis every Sunday at Pla-Mor Ballroom dancing the night away. While they were at Pla-Mor they ended up making many dancing friends.

Phyllis served her church in many capacities; as a member of the Women's Fellowship, she served as the President for several years. During holiday season she was more than willing to help with Thanksgiving Dinner the church put together. She was always willing to help the ladies of the church put together a meal for the family and congregation of a fellow member who had passed away. She was also a member of the Geneva Legion Auxiliary Post #68.

A favorite saying to her kids and one they will always remember was, "Two wrongs never makes it right".

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Donald Kotas; brothers-in-law, Francis "Fritz" Greenlee, Frank, Harold and Willis Engle; sisters-in-laws, Anna Vnoucek, Helen and Beth Engle; niece, Debbie Wiltshire; nephews, Herald Brian Wiltshire, Lawrence Engle and great-niece, Kristin Engle.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, George A. of Geneva; son, George Jr. and wife Susan of Geneva; daughters, Diane Engle of Geneva, Barbara Trapp and husband Tom of Geneva; sisters, Delmary Wiltshire of Lincoln, Faye Greenlee of York; sisters-in-law, Eleanor (Arlan) Becker of Exeter, Ruth (Delbert) Sorge of Geneva, Mary (Ronald) Uldrich of Milligan; brother-in-law, Joe A. Vnoucek of Friend; grandchildren, Loren Stephenson of Fairmont, Teresa (Herman) Rodriguez of Pecos, NM, James (Jean) Engle of Geneva, Rueben (Lisa) Engle of Clive, IA, Crystal Engle of York; 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and lots of nieces, nephews and friends.

Notes:

He attended grade school at District #44, and graduated from Milligan High School in 1915. In the spring of 1922, he moved to his own home west of Tobias in the SW 1/4 Section 1, Franklin Township. (Milligan, p 348).

SSN 506-48-6238

Anton married Gertrude Deaver on 22 May 1923 in Lodgepole, Cheyenne County, Nebraska. Gertrude was born on 9 Dec 1900 in Gilead, Thayer County, Nebraska; died on 25 Mar 1993 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of James DEAVER and Hester McGREGOR. Gertrude was teaching in Lodgepole, Nebraska, and has planned to return to Kearney State College, when her Uncle Bill DEAVER, informed her of a second grade teaching position in Milligan. He was the superintendent of school in Milligan. (Milligan, p 348).

Notes:

Married:
Gertrude and Anton met when she was teaching school in Milligan. Gertrude later gave up teaching in Milligan, and moved to Venango, Nebraska. One weekend in May, 1923, Anton packed his suitcause and model T and drove to Vanango. He and Gertrude motored down to Sidney, got a ring and a marriage license, and were married in the newly built Catholic Church in Lodgepole. Gertrude's brother, Joe DEAVER and a school teacher friend, Leatha GIBSON, were the witnesses. After their marriage, they headed east to their farm home south of Milligan. They lived on their farm for 62 years, moving into a house in Geneva in July, 1985. Anton lived their with Gertrude for only two months before he passed away. Gertrude moved to Geneva and made her new home with daughter Phyllis Jean ENGLE. (Milligan, p 348

Notes:

Anton attended rural school district #44 which was a dug out in the northwest corner of his father's homestead. Anton was making his home, as a young lad, in a dug out on the SE 1/4 of Section 3 when the blizzard of 1888 struck. Several of the big boys were sent to Anton's farmstead to weather out the storm. Anton valued education, wanting his sons to become professors. He sent them to town school after they completed elementary school. (Milligan, p 347).

Anton married Antonie Volmut on 31 Jan 1893 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Antonie (daughter of Joseph Volmut and Anna Vanis) was born on 6 Jul 1870 in Pisek, Bohemia; died on 16 Apr 1922 in Glengary Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Joseph and Anna VOLMUT, and older sister to Barbara. Her parents lived with she and Anton as of 1900, and his father continued to live with them after his wife died (Milligan, p 347). Grandson John H. "was a constant companion of his grandfather, Joseph VOLMUT, who made his home with the Kotas family." (Milligan, p 358).

She was said to be born in Zivoticich, Pisek, Blatna, Bohemia.

Notes:

Married:
They were married at St. Wencesclaus Catholic Church by Father James BARTIK, with John STEINACHER and Joseph SUDA as witnesses. They made their home with Anton's parents, moving into their new home in Section 3 on April 10, 1893. As of 1987, part of the home was still standing. Besides the land gifted to Anton by his parents, he purchased additional land in the Milligan area from his brothers and from the KUSKA family. He also owned land in Montana, where his brother W.J. lived. (Milligan, p 347).