LuVern Engel Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

LuVern Engel, 84, of Morgan died Friday, August 2, 2013 at Gil-Mor Manor in Morgan. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Morgan with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, August 5, 2013, from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Nelson-Martin Funeral Home in Morgan. Visitation will continue on Tuesday at the church for one hour prior to services. The family requests memorials be directed to Green Lake Lutheran Ministries or St. John’s Lutheran Church. Arrangements are with Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Morgan. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelsonmartinfuneralservice.com. LuVern Engel, the daughter of Dick and Fanny (Stomberg) Bruns, was born February 17, 1929 in Ericson Township, Renville County, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in rural Renville and received her formal education at Renville County School District 142. When LuVern was 14 years old, her mother passed away, leaving LuVern to be the chief housekeeper and cook for her family. She was an excellent cook and was known for her delicious pies. LuVern was often expected to get a pheasant – shot by one of her brothers on a Sunday afternoon – ready for that evening’s supper! In 1953, LuVern met her true love, Elden, at the Renville County Fair in Bird Island. They were married on August 29, 1954 at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. The couple made their home on Elden’s family farm in Sherman Township, rural Morgan. LuVern was a homemaker and dedicated her life to being a loving wife and mother. She was her husband’s helpmate on the farm, a trusted farmwife and partner. LuVern helped with almost every aspect of their dairy farm, including pail-feeding hundreds of baby Holstein calves – which she thoroughly enjoyed. Whenever Elden needed help, she was right there. LuVern was also very active at St. John’s Lutheran Church and held her Christian faith dear. She attended Ladies Aid, Bible study group and taught Sunday school and Release Time classes. LuVern especially enjoyed her years singing in the ladies’ choir. Each year, for many summers, LuVern and Elden spent a week at a resort on Green Lake. These were special family times which the older grandkids fondly remember. In their later years, LuVern and Elden enjoyed traveling on bus trips to many places in the United States and once to Canada. Flying to Hawaii was very special to them, as was their last trip together – to Washington, D.C. LuVern and Elden were blessed with four children. LuVern is survived by her son Thomas (Kristy) Engel of Morgan, and daughters Carol (Don) Clark of Maple Grove, and Sandra (Jason) Hardwick of Morgan. Also surviving are her grandchildren Rachel (David) Krenz, Nicole Engel, Katie, Abby, and Maddie Clark, and Curtis, Camille, and Victoria Hardwick; and great-granddaughter Kylie Krenz. Further surviving are her siblings Andrew (Lavern) Bruns, Harry (Fran) Bruns, and Margie (Wendell) Bakker; sisters-in-law LuElla Bruns, Jeanette Bruns, Karen Bruns Polfliet, Evelyn Jensen, and Alvina Hoffbeck; brother-in-law Elson Winter; and many nieces and nephews. LuVern was preceded in death by her daughter Mariann in 1979; her husband Elden in 1997; sister Dorothy Bredesen; brothers John, Bennie, Leonard, and Henry Bruns; brothers-in-law Glen Bredesen, Ray Hoffbeck, Roger Jensen, and Orlin Engel; sisters-in-law Mildred Bruns and Irene Winter; and nieces and nephews Jay Bakker, Larry Hoffbeck, Diane Holum, Jim Bredesen, and Todd Bruns. LuVern’s deep faith, strong values, and unconditional love will live on in the lives of everyone who knew her. Blessed be her memory.

LuVern Engel

February 17, 1929 - August 2, 2013