Lynette Engelke

Born to the late N. Erik Almen and Thea Nelson Almen in New York City, the family moved to Annapolis when Mr. Almen purchased the Annapolis Yacht Yard with his business partner, Mr. Chris Nelson.

The Almen family lived on Melvin Road, on Aberdeen Creek, and Lynette attended Annapolis Elementary School. She also attended Annapolis High School before leaving for Mary A. Burnam School in Northampton, MA. Lynette graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Sweetbrier College in Virginia.

She was a loving and devoted mother to her 2 sons, Sandy and Erik; and she spent several years teaching kindergarten in Eastport. Lynette was active in The Junior League of Annapolis and the North Arundel Hospital Auxiliary.

When she was a young girl on Melvin Road, she spent many hours outside enjoying life by the water; swimming, crabbing on the family dock and picking strawberries in their fields. She learned to make delectable Swedish pancakes in her mother’s kitchen and took pride in her family’s Swedish heritage.

When she was old enough to drive, Lynette was spotted around town in her convertible car, looking stylish and fashionable. Her appreciation for fine fashion and fine automobiles carried through her life. Her most beloved dog was a West Highland White Terrier named “Gucci.”

Lynette shared her passion for gardening with her grandchildren, planting fragrant flowers and growing abundant vegetables in her backyard gardens. Sunflowers were one of her favorites. Whether playing duets together on the piano, or indulging in those famous Swedish pancakes, time with her family and grandchildren was her greatest joy.

Later in life she started fresh, as a licensed real estate agent in Annapolis. She also worked at Tilghman Company Jewelers, offering a warm smile and friendly spirit to all who knew her.

Her Winters were spent in Delray Beach, FL. The beach was her “happy place” and Delray was very special because her parents had been part-time residents since the 1960s. In Delray every day was a good day in the sunshine, and even better in the evenings with her favorite coffee ice cream after dinner.

Lynette enjoyed traveling, whether to the Islands with her children on their Spring Breaks, or later in life when she and her mother took a long-overdue trip to see relatives in Southern Sweden. They added a side trip to tour gardens in England too.

Lynette was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. She is survived by her 2 sons, George Edmund “Sandy” Engelke Jr. of Delray Beach, FL and Erik Carter Engelke and wife, Lisa of Annapolis; her sister Mona Almen Lankford and husband, Floyd of Baltimore; her former husband, Dr. George E. Engelke, of Pasadena, MD. She was a devoted and beloved “Nan” to 3 grandchildren, Cole, Jack and Elin. And she was a loving aunt to Tracey and Jennifer. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Neal Erik Almen of Chestertown, MD.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening, March 4, 2026 from 3:00-5:00pm at John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 11:00am at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 31 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD.

Private interment with the family will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Annapolis Maritime Museum to support their mission of educating youth and adults about the Annapolis area’s rich maritime heritage and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay through programs, exhibits and community events. www.amaritime.org