Walter M. Engel, 87, Clinton, Missouri passed away Friday, July 12, 2019 at his home in Clinton. Fond memories and condolences may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com .

Walter Merle Engel II, having been denied the ability to dance and sing the last four years is once again able to enjoy outdoor sunshine, beautiful gardens, butterflies, cheerful bird choruses, and to sing with the angels of Heaven and to dance with joy in his heart.

Walter was born in Salida, Chaffee, Colorado 1932 January 16. He graduated from Palisade High School in Palisade, Colorado where he was honored with the John Phillips Sousa musical award; he also graduated from Coyne Radio and Television School in Chicago. He then felt proud and grateful to be able to serve his country in the United States Air Force where he was trained as a gunner and later worked in classified documents.

Walt enjoyed many community activities, being an organizer of the first Miss Longmont (Colorado) Pageant which later morphed to become the Miss Colorado Pageant. He was an active Jaycee in Longmont. He sang and danced in over 22 musical productions from opera to comedies, including the lead role in Dr. Faust. Friends, church choirs, community and university chorals and choruses admired his special Irish tenor voice. He was a member of The Master Singers of St. George, Utah for eight years, enjoying every minute of his time with that men's group.

The Boy Scouts of America gave him a letter of recognition for 38 years off scouting service. He was an Eagle Scout and received his God and Country Award. Because the Jamborees were suspended during WW II, he felt privileged to attend the first Jamboree after the war. Which was held in Washington DC, making it even more memorable to him.

When he was 12, Walter's parents Walter M. Engel and Myrtle Eva Ebright Engel told him he had been adopted when he was six months old. As an adult, Walt was afflicted with MS. Later, when one of his children developed MS, he began searching for his birth family to obtain medical information. In 1985 he was lovingly welcomed into that family of three brothers and four sisters. There have been close ties ever since, which he has especially enjoyed since he was raised as an only child. He has one surviving sibling, Jean (Burley) Miller of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Walter attended the School of Music at Colorado University in Boulder but later became an Industrial Engineer. His work for the Departmernt of Energy at Rocky Flats/Dow Chemical in Denver and at Franklin Electric in Siloam Springs, Arkansas were so interesting to him that he actually got up each morning looking forward to his work and coworkers.

Walt and Frances, his wife, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints after their marriage. That membership became a very important part of his happiness the rest of his life. He served in numerous callings throughout his life, including Branch President of Siloam Springs, Arkansas and was a High Priest. He was always grateful to the young missionary, Richie Nez, of Ganado, Arizona and for the missionaries Wayne and Phyllis Kenworthy, of Jerome, Idaho for continuing their introduction to the church of Dave and Julia Oldham, of Longmont, Colorado.

Walter leaves a blended family of eight children: Walter III (Liz) of Federal Heights, Colorado, Pamela (Jeff) Alvis of Aurora, Colorado, David (Toni) of Las Vegas, Nevada, Don, who is deceased (Kay) of Littleton, Colorado, Joyce (Steve) Read of Pine City, Minnesota, Lisa (Bob) Aldridge of Clinton, Missouri, C. Edwin (Tonya) of Green Forest, Arkansas, and Eric (Nicole) of Lehi, Utah.

Granddaughter Christina Copeland and grandson Travis Engel will especially miss their grandfather because they kept in touch with him thru the years with letters, cards, telephone calls and emails that included pictures of their families. Since 1985 two nieces, Maryanne Berrett of Draper, Utah and Anadeane Galbreath of Star, Idaho have also been lovingly attentive to him. Grandsons Samuel, Aaron, and Isaac Aldridge have spent the last two years helping care for their grandfather with patience and understanding of his needs. Granddaughter Jennifer (Rian) Shelley often sent his great-grandchildrens' drawings to him and frequently called to visit.

His wife Frances and two great-grandsons, Matthew and Noah Aldridge were at his bedside when Walt quietly slipped the bonds of this earth to be made whole again.

We want to thank Walt's hospice workers for their devotion to the career they have chosen. We love and appreciate you, Tara Ritter RN, Michael Newton RN, Lee Richardson, Peggy Shoemaker RN, Debbie Motley RN, Lisa Harryman RN, and especially Michelle for singing with Walt and making him laugh and smile. Who else would take time to memorize his favorite hymn so you could sing it together? That quirky little camp boy scoutish frog song was fun for me to listen to when you two would begin to laugh so hard and try to sing at the same time. The other songs soothed and relaxed him. He loved you.

Patsy TuTu misses you, Walt.

Walter was preceded in death by one son. He is survived by his wife, Frances Ruthilla Etter Engel, seven children, 28 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri.