Harlen Michael Engeldinger

December 23, 1931 – December 28^th, 2023

Harlen (Harley) Michael Engeldinger, son of John and Philomena (Beiver) Engeldinger, passed away peacefully on December 28^th, 2023, at the age of 92. His Funeral service was held at Immaculate Conception Church and was buried with military honors at Calvary Cemetery on December 30^th.

Harley was born and raised on the family farm in Alton, Iowa where he attended Alton High School and helped operate the farm until 1953, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean war.

During his enlistment Harley was assigned to work on telephone systems but was soon recruited to participate on the Redstone rocket and early guided missile projects underway at White Sands, New Mexico. Returning to civilian life in 1955, Harley graduated from Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, and completed his education at Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois in 1957.

During this time, Harley enjoyed a close-knit group of friends that often went roller skating and dancing; the group had a standing bet to see who would be the last to get married. It was in this group he met the love of his life, Darlene Reiter, at a dance in Remsen, Iowa. Harley eventually won the bet as the last to marry on February 4, 1958, when he and Darlene were married at St. James Catholic Church in LeMars, Iowa.

Shortly afterward, the couple took up residence in the bustling town of Sioux City, Iowa where Harley joined Larkin Funeral Home as a funeral director. While still living in the basement of the funeral home, the first of their five boys (Larry) was born. After settling into the first of what became 6 different houses in Sioux City, the family continued to grow quickly with the addition of Mike, Greg, David, and Rich; a time that is often referred by Darlene as the decade of diapers.

During the boys’ early years, Harley became an expert at fixing and inventing solutions to a myriad of broken things including sleds, bicycles, mini-bikes, cars, and the occasional garage door. Darlene became an expert at last minute school projects, buying and preparing meals in bulk, tending to the occasional broken bone, and wondering what it would have been like to have at least one other girl in the family.

As the boys got older, Harley found a creative way to keep the boys out of trouble and provide summer jobs for them by transitioning from indoor work at Larkin, to outdoor work as director of Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City. It also gave Harley a chance to ride his favorite Allis Chalmers tractor again.

Through years of numerous family outings camping trips, and cold Iowa winters Harley and Darlene were well prepared for embarking on their next adventure as snowbirds in Harlingen, Texas. After a few years of traveling back and forth by RV, the couple purchased a small park model trailer and spent the winter months exploring the beaches and border towns, golfing, playing shuffleboard and cards, and lounging poolside. Harley also enjoyed learning and performing a variety of songs on stage with his band.

To stay better in touch with the expanding family of grandchildren and great grandchildren, Harley and Darlene eventually downsized and moved to Sunrise Retirement community, where they participated in many community activities, weekly Wednesday night supper club with their fellow golfers, and attending services at Immaculate Conception Church where Harley once sang in the choir.

 Harley particularly enjoyed grilling for cookouts at Sunrise and received a State of Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award for doing so. He always attended his Thursday afternoon Poker game and Bingo each Friday afternoon. He also enjoyed participating in the Rosary weekly on campus and enjoying the camaraderie of the Boys of 68 Club and the Knights of Columbus #5660.

Anyone that knew Harley knows he admired his 5 sons more than anything in life, and he always looked forward to visits by his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He lived his life with a smile and a chuckle and reminds us not to take anything too seriously except when it comes to love of family.

Survivors are: His loving wife of 65 years Darlene Engeldinger of Sioux City, IA, 5 sons Larry (Pam) Engeldinger of Sioux City, IA,  Mike (Lisa) Engeldinger of Bellevue, WA, Greg (Misti) Engeldinger of Carrollton, TX, David (Becky) Engeldinger of Jefferson, SD, Rich (Roni) Engeldinger of Twin Lakes, IA. 8 grandchildren Lisa (Nick) Todd of Sioux City, IA, John Engeldinger of Jefferson, SD, Melanie (Kirk) Anderson Hackett of Lucas, IA, Lexi (Josh) Dennis of Trophy Club, TX, Jennifer (Andrew) Engeldinger of Bellevue, WA, Miranda Engeldinger of Ankeney, IA, Jessica Engeldinger of Bellevue, WA, Ben Engeldinger of Bellevue, WA. 5 Great Grandchildren Peyton Todd and Colton Todd children of Lisa and Nick Todd, AJ Anderson son of Melanie Anderson Hackett, and Tate Dennis and Hayden Dennis sons of Lexi and Josh Dennis

Preceded in death by his grandson Kevin Engeldinger, son of Larry and Karen Engeldinger in 2008, his sisters Ethelyn Muth in 2001, his mother Philomena in 1983, eldest sister Maxine Georgen in 1965 and his father John in 1963.