Shirley Beth (Polzin) Engel was born Sept. 26, 1924 in rural Deuel County, South Dakota, and passed away
May 17, 2016 at her home in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was 92.
Shirley graduated from Marietta Minnesota High School in 1942, then joined the war effort doing assembly work in a glider factory in the Twin Cities area. When the war was over, she married Marvin Engel in 1946.
After raising four children, Shirley returned to the work force doing secretarial jobs. For almost 24 years she served as assistant editor of OUTLOOK magazine, keeping the publication going during long periods between official editors, and never missing an issue. Those who worked with Shirley remember her as always being reliable, professional and pleasant.
After retiring Shirley did volunteer work at Union College and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital for almost seven years.
Shirley’s hobbies were reading, knitting and china painting. Her favorite part of the Bible was the Sermon on the Mount as found in the h, sixth and seventh chapters of the book of Matthew, which she had memorized. It begins with the blessings Jesus bestows on His followers, then continues to how we should relate to and treat one another. In the sixth chapter He tells us how to worship Him—giving alms, praying and fasting.
Among Shirley’s favorite memories was a four-week vacation in Australia; trail- er-traveling and camping, including backpacking in the Grand Canyon; having a hot air balloon ride; and flying in a small, open-cockpit plane.
Survivors include her husband, Marvin; daughters and sons-in-law, Nadeane and Tom Diede, and Connie and Mike Williams; one son, Blair; five grandchildren, Tanya (Diede) Bindernagel Sanchez, Kristina Hood, Therese Diede, Steven Williams, and Matthew Williams; two great-grandchildren, Michael and Macrina Bindernagel; one sister, Donna Magedanz; and one brother and wife, Claydon and Marion Polzin.
Shirley was preceded in death by her daughter, Anita Hood; grandson, Benjamin Hood; parents, Carl and Fenna Polzin; two brothers, Rodney and Lyle Polzin; one sister, Marguerite Gilbert; and brothers-in-law, Charles Magedanz and David Gilbert.
