Fred Engelken

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Fred Wilburn Engelken, age 90 years, passed away on Monday, March 14, 2022, at his home in Jonesboro, AR surrounded by his loving family.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Louie Engelken and Violet (Elzy) Engelken, brother James Engelken, nephew Richard (“Rick”) Engelken, paternal grandparents Henry and Elizabeth Engelken, Henry’s second wife Lana Engelken, maternal grandparents Edward and Jennie Elzy, father-in-law Oscar Emmons, mother-in-law Kathleen(Brooks) Emmons, and sister-in-law Marjorie (Steele) Engelken, all of Doniphan, Missouri, and special sister-in-law Carol (Emmons) Kersting of Bridgeton, Missouri, along with several uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Surviving Fred is his beloved wife, soulmate, and best friend of 67 years, Barbara Engelken of Jonesboro, Arkansas; sons, Robert (Sherry) Engelken of Jonesboro, Steve (Robin) Engelken of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, and Jeff (Stephanie) Engelken of Anna, Texas.
Other survivors include eight grandchildren; David (Natalie) Engelken of Paragould, Arkansas, Daniel (Ashley) Engelken, Michael (Jennifer) Engelken, and Emilee (Matthew) Engelken Gill, all of Jonesboro, Benjamin Engelken of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, and Brittney Engelken, Madyson Engelken, and Spencer Engelken, all of Anna. Also, surviving are twelve great-grandchildren: Evan Engelken, Jase Engelken, Luke Engelken, Morgan Engelken, Cora Gill, Rosie Gill, Oliver Gill, and Parker Gill, all of Jonesboro, Scarlett Engelken of Anna, and Weslynn Engelken, Lydia Engelken, and Austyn Claire Engelken of Paragould, nieces Jamie (Engelken) Guess of Billings, Missouri, and Judy (Engelken) Black of Kevil, Kentucky, and nephew Brad Kersting of Bridgeton, Missouri.

Fred’s family was a well-respected part of the Doniphan community, particularly the area around Highway 21 north, where his father farmed and later worked for the Missouri Department of Transportation. Fred and his family attended the Oak Grove Church of God. Fred graduated from Doniphan, Missouri High School in 1948. He spent ten years in the Missouri Army National Guard, achieving the rank of second lieutenant. Fred’s career included farming, Vitronic Manufacturing Company, Retail Credit Company, Equifax, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, and, most recently, the Defense Contract Management Agency for twenty years until his retirement in 1999. After living in Walnut Ridge for over twenty years, Fred and Barbara moved sequentially to Neosho, Missouri, Wichita, Kansas, Arkansas City, Kansas, and Joplin, Missouri while Fred worked for the DCMA. In 2000, upon retirement, Fred and Barbara moved from Joplin, Missouri to Jonesboro where they have resided since.

Fred was a loving and beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, and other family roles. He enjoyed music (particularly bluegrass, gospel, and country-western), western movies, hunting, fishing, gardening, and attending his son’s ball games. He spent the last ten years singing and playing guitar at weekly meetings of a local bluegrass association and at area nursing homes.

The family will receive visitors at Emerson Funeral Home (1629 E. Nettleton Ave., Jonesboro, AR 72401) from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2022.
A commemoration-of-life service will be held at the Emerson Memorial Chapel on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. with Brother Tim Campbell and Robert Engelken officiating. Burial will follow at Lawrence Memorial Cemetery in Walnut Ridge immediately after the service. Pallbearers will be David Engelken, Benjamin Engelken, Daniel Engelken, Brad Kersting, Spencer Engelken, and Matthew Gill. Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Engelken, Carl Baird, Vernon Brooks, and Jim Kersting.