Darrel Engler

A celebration of life for Darrel "Short" Engler, 87, will be held in Gillette at the Mt. Pisgah Cemetery Chapel on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 2:00P.M. Darrel died peacefully on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at Shepherd of the Valley in Casper.Mr. Engler was born in Lowell, Kansas on April 15, 1926, to Nellie and Paul Engler. He spent his childhood on the Kansas farm. On September, 29, 1943 at the tender age of 17, Darrel joined the Navy. During WWII he served his country on the board of the USS Crescent City in the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign. When asked if spending his recent 87th birthday in the hospital was his worst experience he proclaimed his 18th birthday on Okinawa was far worse. After receiving an Honorable discharge from the Navy on March 2, 1946, this handsome man in his Navy uniform returned home to Kansas and his sweetheart, Wanda Lee Anderson. They were married on December 14, 1946. Darrel and his bride began married life as farmers in Kansas. For a brief period he owned and operated a gas station and then worked for GM making parts for cars. He always maintained his love of motors and all things mechanical. Wanda and Short's family grew to include four children and Short settled into a work life in the oil field. Darrel and his young family traveled the country following the rigs as they moved from location to location. He learned the oil business from the bottom up doing the hard and laborious business of moving, setting up and working on the rigs. By 1958, Short joined Virg's Testing Company. He managed the company's Northeast Wyoming Territory. Gillette was now the family's permanent home. Many years later Darrel began a career in sales, still within the oil business, in Denver, CO. In 1976, Wanda and Short moved to Cottonwood, AZ, where they first owned Verde Valley Rentals and then later E and E Rent to Own which they owned and operated until they retired. They continued to live in Cottonwood until Wanda's death in 2009. Short then moved to Casper, WY to be close to family. Short was hard, active man. Throughout his life he enjoyed a variety of hobbies and activities. He love to hunt and fish. He spent many hours in his boat fishing and pulling his kids waterskiing. He and Wanda crossed the country on their BMW motorcycle and explored the deserts of AZ in their Jeep. In later years Short found satisfaction in a good vegetable garden and well groomed yard. He also learned to make projects out of wood. He spent hours making flowers and unique projects depicting the southwest for his kids and grandkids. Short loved to eat and liked good food. He was as comfortable in the kitchen as he was in his work shop. Darrel Engler was preceded in death by his beloved wife Wanda Lee, his parents and his brother Paul Engler. He leaves a family of four children Dallas (Dianna) Engler, Pat (Bob) Gustafson, Katy (Brian) Shulte, David (Tamara) Engler of Gillette; nine grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Short always said people should be remembered for who they really were complete with shortcomings as well as accomplishments. Short gave his family an endless supply of smiles and memories and we are grateful to have shared his life.