Frank Engel

    Frank Berton Engel, 75, of Wray, lost his 10-year battle with terminal cancer at 1:41 a.m. on March 23, 2018. He died at Anschutz University of Colorado Health in Aurora, with many loved ones at his side.
    Frank was born Sept. 27, 1942, in Denver to Henry and Clarice Engel. He was welcomed home by his half brother Neil Ellis. Frank had his first train ride with his parents when they brought him home after being discharged from Colorado General Hospital.
    Frank attended country school north of Wray until the third grade. He then finished his education while attending the Wray public schools, and he graduated with the Class of 1961. Frank loved wrestling and was a state champion in 1960 and a state runner-up in 1961. After graduation, he attended Northeastern Junior College in Sterling.
    Frank married Cheryl Stults, and to this union, three children were born: Kevin, Mark and DeNae. In 1971, Deb Rehfeld, age 5, became an integral part of his family at the farm, raising her as his own daughter.
    In 1980, he met the love of his life, Mary, and her three young children: Chad, age 5, Dondi, age 4, and Shanda, age 2. After seven years of courting her, they were married May 15, 1987, at the Wray United Methodist Church.
    Frank was a hardworking man of many trades. After college, he worked at Martin Marietta. That was then followed by 10 years of retail meats in Denver. He moved back to Wray in 1971 and leased Engel Pack and Sporting Goods from his parents. He purchased the packing plant in July of 1976. In December of 1976, he purchased the farm, which was later named Blackwolf Family Trust.
    Frank and Mary became a team in 1980. They worked together at Engel Pack and Sporting Goods and added Engel Poultry Processing and Engel Nursery. Their teamwork continued at home on the farm, 12 miles south of Wray, as well. They farmed and ranched with their children throughout the years. This included growing wheat and feed, as well as raising animals, including buffalo, llamas, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine and poultry.
    Frank is survived by his wife, Mary; son, Kevin Engel and his children David and Sydney; son, Mark Engel and his wife Tammy and children Jade, Mason and Myles; daughter, DeNae Mack and her husband Paul and children Britney and Tony; daughter, Deb Rehfeld; son, Chad Sheridan and his children Seth and wife Jada, Jared, Ethan, Charlie and Masyl; daughter, Dondi Earle and her husband Emerson and child Kai; and daughter, Shanda McAllister and her husband Zachary and children Nick and Matt. Frank is also survived by one great-granddaughter, Saya Lynn Sheridan, aka “Poppy’s Pete.” She had resided with them on the farm since she was born.
    Frank was preceded in death by his father, Henry Engel; mother, Clarice Engel; grandparents, Frank and Maggie Engel and Cyrus and Pearl Hammell; and his beloved first and second in-laws, Oscar and Alvina Stults and Charlie and Masyl Sheridan.
    Services were held March 28 at the United Methodist Church in Wray, officiated by Ben Wentworth and friend Norman Stott of Port Aransas, Texas. The family had a private burial at the Blackwolf Family Trust burial site.
    Contributions in memory of Frank may be made to the Frank Engel Memorial Fund at First Pioneer National Bank, 145 W. 4th St., Wray, CO 80758.
    Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray: www.schmidt-jonesfh.com.