Charlotte Engler

CHARLOTTE (NICELY) ENGLER

Funeral Service will be at Calvary Lutheran Church, 7500 Oak St., Kansas City, MO. on Saturday, Jan. 18: Service at 2 pm, with visitation an hour earlier, Pastor Bryce Bereuter, officiating. If you wish to make a gift in her memory the family suggests it may be made to the Church.

Charlotte Engler was born the youngest child of Austin Nicely and Roma (Edmondson) on Nov. 15, 1931 in St. Lois, MO. She graduated from University City High School in 1949. Charlotte was united in Holy Marriage to Albert Engler on June 7, 1958. Charlotte was mother to four sons: A. Garlin, David, Thomas, and Jonathan. 

These sons were born in various parts of the country where Charlotte accompanied her husband, now a Lutheran clergyman: Garlin in Miami, Florida on his seminary internship; David in Petosky, Michigan on his first call to Charlevoix/Mancelona, Michigan; Thomas in Aurora, Illinois, along with; Jonathan in Evanston, Illinois on his third call to Aurora. After the birth of all their sons, Charlotte accompanied her husband to Omaha, Nebraska, Millington, Michigan and finally to Kansas City. In those various locations, Charlotte worked in the offices of a manufacturing company, an international airline reservation, and finally in child care from her own home.

Along with serving the various congregations where she lived as Sunday School teacher, on Altar Guilds, and as a Stephen’s Minister, she took great delight in caring for her family, welcoming each new addition as spouses and grandchildren were added to her growing family. Charlotte was a member of both Calvary and Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Kansas City while her husband served as pastor there. In retirement, they have both again become members of Calvary. She prepared meals, baked bread, and crocheted afghan blankets and many baby things.

Charlotte was a two-time cancer survivor; plus had many other unrelated surgeries over the years. Her last years were spent housebound from the cumulative effects of aging and the most recent ravages on her body by the disease and treatments. Those years were still spent loving and being loved by her family, now numbering three surviving sons, twelve grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren, plus all the attendant spouses, now spread from Pennsylvania and North Carolina in the East to Louisiana and Texas in the South to Colorado and Utah in the West.

Charlotte slipped quietly away from us on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at the age of 93 years, 1 month; and 28 days. She is now embraced in the greater loving arms of her Savior Jesus, awaiting the blessed reunion with all the faithful in the Resurrection. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, and four brothers; by her eldest son, Garlin in 2016. She is mourned by her husband, Albert of the home; three sons: David (Risë) of Pearland, TX; Rev. Thomas (Young Shin) of Menomonee Falls, WI; and Jonathan (Lorraine) of Kansas City, MO; twelve grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren; two generations of nieces and nephews. She leaves many friends, (a few of whom are still living).

Jesus said: “Because I live, you will live also.” John 14:17