Robert A. Engle

Robert Alan “Bob” Engle died on Oct. 31, 2015, at Whidbey General Hospital at the age of 74.

Bob was born on Oct. 1, 1941, at the Polly Harpole Maternity Home in Coupeville, to Robert E. and Iris I. (Minahan) Engle. Bob lived his entire life in Coupeville, except for the six months he was stationed at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Bob attended Coupeville High School and graduated in the Class of 1959.

Bob was a farmer all of his life and proud to call himself a farmer. He started working the family farm as a young boy. At the age of 14, he joined his father and brother Len, forming Robert Engle and Sons Farm. Bob became the fourth-generation farmer to work the family farm that was begun by his great grandfather W.B. Engle and was carried on by his grandfather Carl T. Engle and his father, Robert E. Engle.

Bob was called to active duty with the United States Army in 1964 and was honorably discharged six years later after serving his country in the Army Reserves. Upon completion of basic training in Kentucky, Bob returned to Coupeville via a cross-country road trip with his soon-to-be fiancé and in-laws. Bob proposed to Cheryl Sherman in Pierre, S.D. He then returned to work on the farm; on June 25, 1966, he and Cheryl were married, bringing together two of the largest farm families on the Prairie.

Bob was committed to farming, but he was always ready to lend a hand to anyone. Whether it was helping with the Methodist Church addition or taking in cattle from the Skagit Valley when the farms were flooded; he was there to support his community. Bob loved tractors, big trucks, anything John Deere and country music; but most important to him was his family.

Bob Engle is survived by his wife Cheryl of 49 ½ years; by three children and their spouses, Robert W. and Mary Engle and grandchildren Justin and Harley Engle of Coupeville; Donna and Russell Bailey Jr. and granddaughters McKayla, McKenzie and Mollie, also of Coupeville; and Bonnie and Scott Bennett and granddaughter Sydnie of Orange, Calif.; and by his siblings and their spouses, Jim and Joyce Engle of Port Townsend, Len and Terri Engle of Coupeville, Ellen Derkland of Burlington and Jan and Dan Olson of Mount Vernon. Numerous nieces and nephews and a wealth of cousins also survive.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Iris Engle, his father and mother-in-law Wilbur and Grace Sherman and three brothers-in-law, Edward Morgan (Susan), Roger Purdue (Sara) and Don Derkland (Ellen).

Graveside funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Nov. 14, at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville with Rev. David Engle and Rev. Jin Ming Ma officiating.

A tractor procession will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the lumber yard behind Red Apple Market. Friends of Bob are invited to join the procession with their tractor or truck. A celebration of life and reception will follow at the Coupeville High School Commons with Gary Wallin, life celebrant, officiating. Please visit Bob’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneral

home.com to share memories and condolences. Memorials may be made to Island County 4-H in Bob’s name.