Robert "Bob" Kyle Engler

Robert Kyle Engler Sr., age 90, passed away on March 19, 2026. Bob passed away with his family by his side at the home that he built in the early 1980’s. In his last weeks, he could feel intense love in a very special way from family and close friends.

He was born in Ames, Iowa on November 26, 1935, to Kyle and Thelma Engler. He was the middle child of three and grew up in Fayetteville, AR. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Phillip Engler, sister Janet McCreary, his spouses Betty LaRue Engler and Barbara Engler.

He is survived by six children: Kyle Engler (Anna Marie), Jim Engler (Trish), David Engler, Eric Engler (Tracy), Ginger Eubanks (Darin), and Craig Gilbert (Shelly); nine grandchildren: T. J. Engler, Robbie Engler (Bekah), Alec Eubanks, Nicole Ivie (Jared), Colton Engler, Nathan Engler, Gabrielle Engler, Claire Eubanks, and Corbin Gilbert; and seven great-grandchildren: Jackson Ivie, Kennady Ivie, Kieran Engler, Mackenzie Ivie, Eloise Engler, Loegan Ivie, and Jaime Engler.

Bob was a great man of faith who led by example and walked out his faith in every aspect of his life. He has gone to be with Jesus who he claimed as his Lord and savior. His family is comforted knowing Bob is loving his eternal home and confident he is enjoying the angelic chorus of praise in heaven. Promises made promises kept by Jesus Christ in heaven. Galatians 5:22–23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

By the time Bob graduated Fayetteville High in 1954, he was displaying his engineering proclivity and mechanical prowess by restoring a 1946 Harley Davidson knucklehead and a Jaguar XK convertible. Bob was a “cool dude”among his peers, often giving rides to adventurous passengers. Bob joined the U.S. Army right out of high school and served two honorable years in Puerto Rico during the Korean war. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Private First Class as a Radioman. Bob used his GI bill to achieve a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the U of A in Fayetteville where Bob met and married Betty LaRue Jackson of Bentonville, daughter of Doctor James Loyd and Ruah Victoria Jackson. The marriage was held in Bentonville in 1959 as a double wedding that included her sister Annette and her beau Elvin Bellah. The wedding was a prominent event and featured in the local paper with much fanfare.

Bob, LaRue, Elvin and Annette set off for Kansas City, Missouri where Bob and Elvin worked together and he gained invaluable knowledge and experience in home building which later applied to building his own home on G street here in Bentonville. Four of Bob’s 6 children were born in this era. Bob, being unafraid of new challenges and a burning ambition to provide for his children, decided to pick up and take his new family to El Paso Texas where he began a corporate engineering career with the Baldwin Organ Company and subsequently Farah Menswear manufacturing.

Bob and his love for the environment was calling. The challenging and underwhelming aspects of corporate life inspired change once again. Buying 40 acres in Anthony, New Mexico to try his hand at farming and starting a new earthworm business venture which turned into more of an adventure than a success story. Once reality set in due to 2 house fires and a weak marketplace he once again packed it in and returned to Bentonville with family in tow. We found humor in the fact we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies heading TO Arkansas. This experience tested Bob’s iron but if you knew Bob at all you might understand the cliche’ You can’t keep a good man down!

After the passing of his wife LaRue and 3 of his boys leaving their nest, Bob found another jewel to add to his crown; Barbara Jean Craig and her 2 beautiful children joined the now expanded family. As you might expect his resilience and selflessness was in full array. His steady and loving way created fertile ground for this new extended family to thrive and become one.

Being a man of superior resilience, Bob changed hats again and began a surveying job in the early development of Bella Vista. Bob supplemented his income with a handyman service until he landed what turned out to be his dream job: machine shop teacher at Rogers High School. Bob knew that children are our future and would continue many student teacher relationships and some still survive to this day.

Upon retiring, he wasn’t done using his wide-ranging skill set. Using the machine shop he created in his own home, Bob began generating metal fabricated parts for various industrial entities like Bekaert, Dow and the airline industry. Bob also used the same skills to become an enthusiastic member with the “Tired Iron of the Ozarks” located in Gentry, AR. He remained a member throughout his senior life, giving him more opportunities to connect to youth. His specialty was in re-creating (to perfection) scaled down examples of historic engines of American craftsmanship and engineering that began in the industrial revolution. Bob proudly displayed and operated his masterpieces at local tractor shows for years on the back of a 1940’s Ford flatbed.

There are endless amounts of stories that could be told about Bob. More than anything, he was a Christian man who loved his family and who was loving and kind to everyone, a trait this world could use more of. He had a quippy sense of humor and he was always fun to be around. Bob will be missed, he was a highly intelligent, selfless, honest and passionate man who chose to live life to its fullest. May you rest in peace “Grandad”.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 10th at First United Methodist Church in Bentonville at 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches, https://www.youthranches.com/