Engel, Randall Clair (1957-1972)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1972 Jun 16 p. 30

Birth date: 1957 Aug 12

text of obituary:

RANDALL CLAIR ENGEL

Randi came to join the Engel family and to bless their home on August 12, 1957. Since he arrived on the scene somewhat early, he was of special concern to his parents. They realized by what a slender thread even a baby's life can be suspended and so showered their love upon him and accepted him as loaned by the Lord.

The house of the Lord was to play an important part in his life. He made his first appearance there at just over one month of age. The following Mother's Day he was presented to the Lord in dedication.

His early childhood was quite normal and happy. Whether accompaning his parents on various trips or moves or enduring childhood diseases, he accepted them all with little complaint. It became rather obvious that Randi made friends easily and it was clear that he would thoroughly enjoy himself regardless of the situation.

Very early in life Randi understood the Word of God sufficiently well to realize his goodness was not sufficient to meet the demands of God. Thus it came as no surprise at West Bank Bible Camp when at the age of 'Seven he r:esponded eag,erly when ·the invitayion to s'alvat,ion was g'iven. T'his was tlhe experience he had quest1 ioned hris diad a:beut ea'rl'ieor and n'ow thedecisi'On was made. His da,d A 'a,d 'lihre priv,ilege o·f pointing out Cb,rist's sac::niflice and Randi wa'5 gloriously born a@'ain in-too the family o,f God, Romans 10:13 "For whosoever sha'il c'all on ,th e nam e M rhe Lord shaH be saved " became very reall 'and precious to him .

To Rlandi this now be'ca'me a way of life. H'e e,njo'Y·ed fe llo'Wshi'J;! witA 11 he Lord-pray:e'r ancl reading o,f t,he Word o,f, G'od. Se,v,elfal y,ea,rs I'a'ter, M 8@ie e'lr eveA , he follewed t'me Lord 'iA bap,ti· sm. 'Ev,eA be· fore this nAe tw,o bmthers took ,an a0ti,Vle ,irillteres t iril miss i.0 ril'S 'anc;l J;! ed e;! a speC'iofic amO,Urilt i'n swp,portof a mis'Slionary the)! leamed t.o kn.ow, a pr0mlise t,A :ey k'ept to the · t;ime of h'is passing.

LO'Y 'in@ the Lorcl , however, d,idn't stifli e the 'a€,1;i,y,iities o,f this n'ormal yowng man. At h.ome Ae was a gre'a· t. friend t o slisters Peg@i a,lid K.athy a,s well as ,to bro,tR:er Rlick. He didn't mind work ei,toher but gl'ad'ly 'Rel'J;!ed on the farm in v,ari.ous ways. At school too he was an a0tive' sP'orts enthusiast with interests ranging from hockey to football. IHe fwrther found rime for p'iano and I'ater ,took special interes,t in sing ing and 'band, being a member of the Assinlibolia band for quite some time.

Letters and A0t'es recDr'd he lo'ved his parerHs dearl,y and didn't mind ex'pressing it.

Although m :e enjoy,ed li·fe thorou§hly, he was bo rhered with sinus and ftrequent hera'd.aches. St,U iI, mOAe ort these thin@s disturbed h,im @ :r8a'tly, es.p.eoially sp:i.rIM:- ua·lily. Thi's becam.e eV'ident in the s'ongs he loved such a:s 'One Of These D'ays' and in h,is c:leep con0erm for ·others.

The yo:u,n@ . J;!e:oJp'I,e of the Woo,dro,w Church h'acl a great time tog,ether on S'atmday night, April 15, '85 s,eve'm indivi dl1a Is ma dre deci's i'O ns for thie Lo,rd . Then on Sunday after the wors>h>i');l s·erv,ice, Ra'Aclii was wi,th the @ 'fOUJ;! praY'iA.g for others who cl'id n0,t kmolW the lo:rd .

Howev,er, his work was al'Ail'os,t cloAre. Whil'e on hli's way h.ome f,r,om e,hurcR, ,t,h'e auto,mobi lre im whiern he was ridii.m .g lerft the rea:e;! amlll ,me was fatarl1 ly ,i,mjured . Although he w:a's rwshed to hospiMI in Gra,v,elfu.owf@ ane;! I'a'ter 'hly air 'amhlJll'ance to R'e.gina,, ' his time ha'cl rwn ow-t a,md, Randli went ,to be wit h tbe Lonl he loved aAd se'rved on the af,terno.on of Apr'i.1 1'6...

He leav,esc ~o mourf.l his passing is~ J;!'arellts, Allen and Joyce Eng'el; hoi's br01her, R'ick; and his s'i'Sters, Pegg'i 'aAd Kathy; his grandparen'ts , Mr. and Mrs. Ed B'aumback ef Lodi , California aAd Mr. and Mrs. Emil Engel of Medic'ine Hat, Allberta; and 'a host ot' other re:1'atives als we'il as numerous friends.