Roy M Engelke

Lt. Col. Roy M. Engelke, of Henderson, Nevada, passed away on December 1, 2021.  Roy was born in Braham, Minnesota to Marvin and Joyce Engelke on April 10, 1939, the second oldest of four children.

Roy, 21, was in Minneapolis, in sales, knocked on a door one day, and met 20-year-old, Sharon.  This meeting turned into a date and forever changed their future, they married in 1961.

Roy enlisted in the USAF in 1961 and was approved for the AECP(Airman’s Educational Commissioning Program) and graduated Cum Laude from Syracuse University and was quickly approved for the pilot track, training on the T-33, T-37 & T-38, with his first assignment to Travis AFB in 1968.  In 1969, he received orders to Pleiku AB, Vietnam as a FAC(Forward Air Command) flying an O-2A into enemy territory on recon.  Roy returned to Travis AFB and earned C-141 instructor/examiner status.  In 1976, at Altus AFB, he was a Standardization and Command Pilot for MAC1(Military Airlift Command) C-141 and became the Chief of Operational Training Division in 1980 at MAC HQ at Scott AFB.  Roy’s final assignment was Kirkland AFB, flying T-39’s and was promoted to Lt. Colonel and took command of the unit.  Roy retired in 1985 with 24 years of honorable service.

Roy earned numerous awards during his service with most notable the Distinguished Flying Cross.  Roy also earned his Master’s degree from Southern Illinois University.

Roy switched to commercial with Sunworld Airlines in the DC-9.  In 1988, Roy moved to UPS, piloting the DC-8 internationally, until his retirement in 2002.

Roy was an avid golfer and played as much as possible.  He enjoyed hiking in the mountains with Sharon and had a great passion for the beauty of Nevada’s wild horses.  Roy had a knack for building things, including his experimental Zenith single-engine plane in his garage; he absolutely loved flying over the Nevada deserts.  Roy was a very loving, friendly person and was a joy to be around; his smile was contagious.

Roy was proceeded in death by his parents.  Roy is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Sharon, his children Tom and Jeff, brothers Jerry, Jim, Donny, his sister Peggy, grandchildren Tyler, Jacob, and Hannah.

Funeral services will be held at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Dr., Boulder City, NV on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at noon with full distinguished military honors.  Burial will follow immediately after