RET USAF SMSgt Kenneth Howard Engelke, Sr.

Retired USAF SMSgt Kenneth H. Engelke, Sr., passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at the age of 84. Ken is the beloved significant other of Judy Allison; devoted father of Kenneth H. Engelke, Jr. and his late wife Lisa, and Cathy Bergener and her husband Rick; loving grandfather of Sam and Layla Engelke and Kenny and Amanda McGowan. He was predeceased by his parents Melvin W. Engelke, Sr., a WW II Navy Vet and Nellie May Engelke (nee McFaul) who was a Rosie the Riveter. Also predeceased by his siblings, Shirley May Engelke, Melvin W. Engelke, Jr., and Thomas Engelke. Survived by many loving nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Ken was born on April 19, 1940, in Baltimore, MD. He grew up in Rosedale, MD, where he attended Kenwood High School. He later served in the Army National Guard, U.S. Army, Army Reserves, Air National Guard, and U.S. Air Force. He joined the Army National Guard in April 1959, so that he would not be drafted and then became regular Army in October 1959. He left in 1962, joined the Army Reserves in 1971 and transferred to the Air National Guard in February 1975. Towards the end of his career, he became a recruiter, which he only planned to do for six months. Instead, it lasted for twenty-three years. Ken loved working with kids and getting them started with their military careers. He went to school in Texas to learn how to recruit and retain, which was key. It costs a lot of money to train a soldier, so retention was important. Ken retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force with a Bachelor’s Degree in Air Force Intelligence with a Top Secret Clearance.

After retirement, Ken worked as a Disabled Veterans Counselor for the State of Maryland. He was a member of the Gunpowder VFW Post 10067 Auxiliary, where he served as Hospital Chairman. He enjoyed working with the volunteer services with Perry Point VA Hospital to bring needed items such as coats, hats, gloves, shoes, coffee, and other comfort items. He also enjoyed gardening, traveling, reading books, going to casinos, playing poker, and spending time with his family and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the Schimunek Funeral Home, 9705 Belair RD, Nottingham, MD 21236, on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M. A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 11:30 A.M., at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Holly Hill Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ken’s name to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org, or to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org