Courier-Tribune
Seneca, KS
dated - May 22, 1996
pg 4

Alfred F. Engelken, 74, of Centralia, KS, died at the Onaga Community Hospital in Onaga, KS, on May 17, 1996.

He was born on March 25, 1922, on a farm north of St. Benedict, KS, the son of Henry J. and Johanna Bergman Engelken.

He attended the St. Mary's Catholic grade school in St. Benedict and helped on the family farm. At the age of 18 he joined the C.C.C. camp at Marysville, KS, for four years. He was inducted into the U.S. Army Engineer Corps, in 1942. He was involved in the liberation of Japan and the clean up of Hiroshima after the atomic bomb. In 1946 he was discharged and moved to Coal Creek.

He was married to Dolorosa "Rose" Koelzer on February 13, 1945, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca, KS. She survives at the home.

They farmed at Coal Creek for 25 years and also had a dairy operation. In 1957 he was employed by Goodyear for 27 years and retired in 1984. In 1974 they moved to Silver Lake and John Engelken took over the family farm. In 1984, they moved to Centralia. Alfred had a large garden and sold his garden products throughout the area. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in February, 1995.

His is a member of St. Bede's Church in Kelly, KS., Knights of Columbus 1769 in Seneca, American Legion Armstrong Moyer Post 216, the Centralia Boosters, Keenagers Club , all of Centralia, Local Rubber Union #307, at Topeka, the 2735 CCC Camp Club at Marysville, the 96th Infantry Division Association of Dead Eye Patch of World War II, and a former member of St. Stanislaus Church in Rossville. For many years he helped with the military honors for his fellow comrades. He was a hard working man who enjoyed visiting with friends.

Survivors besides his wife, Dolorosa, are sons, Francis Engelken, Centralia, KS; John Engelken, Centralia, KS; Cletus Engelken, St. Joseph, MO; Alfred Leo Engelken, Vermillion, KS: daughters, Martha Anderson, Shawnee, KS; Anna Marie Galloway, Shawnee, KS; Monica Guilfoyle, Topeka, KS; Deloris Constant, Topeka, KS; Michele Shively, Carbondale, KS; brothers, Bernard Engelken, Seneca, KS; Aloysisus Engelken, Seneca, KS; Kenneth Engelken, Topeka, KS; sisters, Leona Koelzer, Onaga, KS; Florence Pearson, Seneca, KS; Mary Ann Armstrong, David City, NE; 30 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Mary While on December 17, 1992; brother, Cletus Engelken; and sister, Rosalita Mace.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Bede's Catholic Church in Kelly, KS. Burial was with full military honors provided by American Legion Armstrong-Moyer Post #216, Centralia, in St. Patrick's Cemetery at Coal Creek.