Sue Engler

A memorial service for Sue Engler will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Kenton Birtell officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date, the St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery at Lexington, Nebraska.

Mary Susan "Sue" Engler, 99, passed away on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at the Christian Homes Care Community at Holdrege. Susan was born on May 21, 1924, in Alliance, Nebraska to Erma R. (Wilkinson) and Hubert Dale Shellenberger, Sr.  She attended Alliance Public Schools graduating with the class of 1942.  She was a drummer in the Alliance High Marching Band, which won awards in both state and national competitions.  She was voted homecoming queen in her senior year.

After graduation, Sue was employed at the Alliance Army Air Field during World War II, as a clerical assistant in the Officers Supply Office.  During this time, she also sang in a trio that performed entertainment for Bond Rallies at the Air Base.

In 1960, she married Robert Engler.  They raised four children.  She later pursued higher education at Scottsbluff Junior College and Kearney State College.  Because of her husband's career in education, they moved several times and lived in Harrisburg, Tecumseh, and Bellevue in Nebraska; Detroit, Michigan; Wayne, Pennsylvania; and Las Vegas, Nevada, before moving to Holdrege in 1972.

While in Bellevue, Sue taught at the Omaha Women's Job Corps Center.  While residing in Las Vegas, she was a coordinator for tours arriving from the East Coast.  After moving to Holdrege, she was employed by the Holdrege Public Library for 17 years before retiring in 1996.

Susan was active in St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, serving as a lay reader, Eucharistic Minister and on the Altar Guild for many years.  Throughout her years in Holdrege, she volunteered at Phelps Memorial Hospital, Meals-on-Wheels, Chums Program, Lions Club Screening Program, immunization clinics and at Holdrege Memorial Homes.  In 1998, Susan and Robert were honored by the Nebraska Heart Institute and Bryan LGH Medical Center, in recognition of their donated time and talent that promoted better heart and health care for the citizens of Phelps County, Nebraska.  She belonged to Friends of the Library, P.E.O. Chapter HM, and several bridge clubs.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and an infant son.

Survivors include her husband, Robert; daughter, Jane (Warren Nelson, Jr.) of Lincoln; sons:  David of Belle Fourche, South Dakota; Jim (Lori) of  Holdrege; and Dan (Sondra) of Hartford, South Dakota; foster daughter, Marcia Freisz of Omaha;  11 grandchildren:  Trey, Amy, Lora, Shannon, David, Damon, Danyele, Mindy, Matt, Jennifer, and Michael; 22 great-grandchildren: Glen, Kade, Christian, Layne, Sydney, Sylvie, Kevin, Cameron, Justis, William, Jordan, Cadence, Malakye, Hayden, Ellie, Adelyn, Michael, Alexander, Emily, Hazel, Oliver, and Holden.

There will not be a visitation or viewing the evening prior to the service.

Memorials in Sue's honor, are kindly suggested to the family for future designation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.