Al Engel

At his home in Oklahoma City, Albert Edward Engel, age 85, passed over to our Heavenly Father on September 13, 2021. Al was born in Liberal, Kansas on August 27, 1936, the youngest son of Jake and Florence Engel. He graduated from Mount St. Mary’s High School, where his football teammates gave him a lifetime name – Alligator. He started college at the University of Oklahoma and met his wife of 22 years, Linda Sue Patton. Al decided to be a teacher and transferred to Central State Teachers College, currently UCO, where he obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education.

Al operated a filling station while attending school full time with a young family and eventually ten (10) children. Throughout his career teaching high school and coaching, he routinely worked additional jobs, including successful businesses in ornamental iron and years in government contracting. After teaching at Bishop McGuinness High School for several years, he was selected for a federal government management program. The job took his young family to Dallas, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi, and back to Oklahoma City. He returned to teaching and to stay in Oklahoma City where he taught at Northwest Classen and Douglas High School for 30 years.

Al Engel always had a child in his lap. Babies and children of all ages simply loved Alligator, and he loved them. He is survived by his children Linda Ward, Mark Engel and wife, Debbie, Pat Engel, Maggie Engel, Hope Engel, Faith Engel, John Engel, and wife Marlene, Luke Engel, and wife Kimberly, Matt’s surviving spouse, Roxanne Engel, Anne’s surviving spouse, David Wyatt, and 29 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 2 great, great-grandchildren, together with dozens of loved nieces, nephews, and cousins of his Engel family. Al was predeceased by his brothers and sister, Jake, Bob, Carl, and Alma Ruth, and by two of his children, Matt Engel and Anne Wyatt.

Alligator’s direct family (52) is his daughter Linda Ward, his granddaughter Christine Ward, his great-grandson, Tristin Ward and wife, Kela, his great, great-grandsons Kanen Ward and Ryker Ward, his great-granddaughter, Patty Kaye Beasley, great-grandson Nikolas Beasley, great-granddaughter Annabelle Beasley, granddaughter Becky Ward, great-granddaughter Hazel Rooney, granddaughter Kaye Ward, great-granddaughter Karisma Ward, granddaughter Michelle Deanes and husband Brian, great-granddaughter Caitlin Deanes and great-grandson Brett Deanes, grandson Joe Ward and wife Anna, great-granddaughters Abigail Ward, Adelynn Ward, and great-grandson Weston Ward, grandsons, Louie Ward and Slater Ward, grandson David Ward and granddaughter Rachel Ward; son Mark Engel and wife Debbie, grandson Adam Engel and granddaughter Emily Engel; son Matthew Engel (deceased) and wife Roxanne, grandsons Matt Paul Engel and Billy Engel; daughter Anne Wyatt (deceased) and husband David, grandsons David Wyatt and Nick Trejoe and granddaughters Sarah Wyatt and Monique Wyatt; son Pat Engel; daughter Maggie Engel, grandsons Albert Engel and Jean Paul Engel, granddaughters Emma Engel and Max Engel; daughter Hope Engel, daughter Faith Engel and grandsons Kai Engel and Braedon Engel, son John Engel and wife Marlene, granddaughters Aliana Engel, Lilly Engel and Mattie Engel; son Luke Engel and wife Kimberly, granddaughters Jessica Engel and Abigail Engel and grandson Kevin Engel.

Dad was an extraordinary father. His fun-filled, energetic direction was our blessing. He was our Boy Scout leader, our Girl Scout Cookie chairman, our Little League coach, and our mentor for alter and lector service.

In many summers, when Mom and Dad were both working as teachers, they would take all their children on extended six-to-eight week camping travels across the entire United States, including 47 states and 8 countries. Our family’s homes were directly across the street from his children’s church and school, first at St. Francis of Assisi Church and Rosary School, and later, across the street from Sacred Heart Church and School. His devotion as a father to his children, like his devotion to his faith, was unmistakable.

Coach Engel was a favorite teacher among his students. After teaching high school for decades, the family has experienced countless chance encounters with students that recognize Mr. Engel’s name. The student’s reaction is always the same. He was their favorite teacher/coach, with varying stories about how he motivated them and was influential in their lives.

Al Engel was a proud Democrat and a strong advocate for workers, education, and social justice. He is a former Oklahoma County Democratic Chairman and was his Precinct Chairman for the last forty years. He was a founding member and organizer for Oklahoma’s Teacher’s Union. He was an active member and leader in Oklahoma City’s American Civil Liberties Union and participated in the activities advocating in the early days for racial equality in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1972, and again in 1974, he ran for the Democratic nomination for United States Congress, 5th District, advocating for a return of government to the people.

Al was always a devoted Catholic, a Lector and Eucharistic Minister for his church. His personal devotion to Christ and desire to live in a kind and giving manner, as the Lord desired, was conspicuous in his everyday actions. Further, Al felt a particular obligation to spread Christ’s message to others and to talk to his loved ones, or anyone, about the importance and joys of having Christ in your life. The strength and certainness of his faith was an inspiration to all that experienced it with him. His legacy is in his teaching and the principles he instilled in his family, students, and friends for a humanitarian life with Christ. He had no fear in his later years and openly stated that “he was going to cross that river” and that he “was going to be in paradise.” Our family extends its sincere gratitude to everyone for the condolences and kind words extended to us in the last few days.

Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2706 S. Shartel Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73109. Memorial donations in the honor of Al may be made out to Sacred Heart Catholic School - Scholarship Program, mailed directly to the school - 2700 S Shartel Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73109