Rodney Dale "Rod" Engman
1948 - 2019
VETERAN
Early Life: Rodney "Rod" was born December 17, 1948, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Maurice Richard Engman and Rosalie Ardell Sandholm Engman. He grew up in the small Iowa town of Dayton, where he learned to appreciate cars, ride motorcycles, work for what he got, and love and care for people. Rod has always loved family and especially his brothers. He and Doran, his brother just a year older, were more than brothers, they were best friends and spent much of their time together. Rod earned many awards, including a trip to Chicago with Doran, for selling newspaper subscriptions at the age of 12. In a tragic accident one summer, Doran drowned while racing Rod in a swim across the quarry. This experience left an indelible mark on his life, and most likely, in how he cared for all of his family and loved ones.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: Following high school graduation in 1967, he wanted to join the United States Army to fly helicopters in Vietnam. His older brother, Terry, helped him make a wise decision and instead talked him into joining the United States Air Force, where he served as an enlisted man in Turkey during the war. After his initial years of service, he visited an Air Force buddy in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, nestled near the Cherokee Nation, and Rod loved it so much he stayed to attend college at Northeastern State University, majoring in tourism management. While there, he served as president of his Acacia Fraternity, and later would share that sometimes the people that serve in positions of leadership are just the ones that step up for the responsibility. After finishing school, he married the love of his life, Lynn Cheryl Plahn, on July 4, 1976, in a small, beautiful chapel in Homer, Iowa. They returned to Oklahoma, this time to Weatherford, where Rod worked at Southwestern Oklahoma State as a business development program facilitator to connect local businesses with professors who could assist fledgling businesses thrive. It was also there that Rod opened the door to the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and invited them in while he put down his beer bottle and put out his cigarette. The family joined the faith, and Rod and Lynn were later sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. From there, Rod dabbled in various ventures that took them back to Iowa before stepping up for the responsibility of rejoining the Air Force as a commissioned officer. Life in the Air Force took the family to California, Missouri, Arizona, England, Virginia, and finally, Germany. Rod started off his military career reboot as a Minuteman missile officer, and then transitioned into Disaster Preparedness. His accolades include: in Strategic Air Command, he and his partner were the first team in the world to be certified for the Cruise missile project while stationed at Greenham Common, England; in Tactical Air Command in Virginia, he was Officer of the Year and separately was part of Office of the Year for Disaster Preparedness; he served in Turkey, once again, during Desert Storm in the early 1990s, training the troops in how to defend against chemical weapons; and he earned two master's degrees while in the Air Force, the first in International Relations and the second in Safety Management. Like most, his children had no idea what Rod did at work, but they know it was "top secret." After leaving of the military, life took Rod and family back and forth between Iowa and Colorado before ultimately landing in Utah. His experience led him into a variety of different occupations following the military, but most notably, he spent several years with DMBA in Salt Lake City, until he retired. Rod went back to work at Riverview Elementary, where he felt drawn to help children with special needs. During their life together, Rod and Lynn raised six unique children. He was the perfect father for their imperfect family; he made each feel loved and special. Rod and Lynn spent all of their time, talents and resources helping their children and grandchildren. At one point, Rod felt the need to pass along life skills to his grandchildren and implemented Maurice School, lovingly named after his father, and spent the summer teaching the kids how to work in the garden, how to write a handwritten thank you card, etc. In this life, Rod loved nothing more than cars, motorcycles and Route 66, a love that he shares with his brother, Garwin, who owns Teepee Curios on the Route in Tucumcari, New Mexico. During his lifetime, Rod lived in more than 50 homes, owned almost double that many cars, loved riding his Harley with the wind in his face, and loved Yorkies. He was a patient father in life, and he was asked to be patient in death. Rodney Dale Engman passed away peacefully the morning of May 1, 2019, at home in Lehi, Utah, after a 14-month battle with brain cancer. In truth, he fought longer than that, we just didn't know earlier. He was 70 years old.
Family Message: "We know he was welcomed home by his parents and brothers. We look forward to riding the open highway in heaven with him again."
Survived By: His wife, Lynn; his children: Angela Marie Huntington, Gabriel Izaak Engman (Deborah), Zachary Abraham Engman (Esther), Sarah Jane Weidauer (Scott), Seth Aaron Engman (Nicole), and Samantha Michelle Cornia (Nathan); 19 grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and his brother, Garwin Lear Engman (Heidi).
Preceded In Death By: His parents and two brothers, Terry and Doran.
Arrangements and Obituary: © 2019 May | Wing Mortuary
Service: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Lehi South Stake Center | Utah
Interment: Utah State Veterans Memorial Park
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1948 - 2019
VETERAN
Early Life: Rodney "Rod" was born December 17, 1948, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Maurice Richard Engman and Rosalie Ardell Sandholm Engman. He grew up in the small Iowa town of Dayton, where he learned to appreciate cars, ride motorcycles, work for what he got, and love and care for people. Rod has always loved family and especially his brothers. He and Doran, his brother just a year older, were more than brothers, they were best friends and spent much of their time together. Rod earned many awards, including a trip to Chicago with Doran, for selling newspaper subscriptions at the age of 12. In a tragic accident one summer, Doran drowned while racing Rod in a swim across the quarry. This experience left an indelible mark on his life, and most likely, in how he cared for all of his family and loved ones.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: Following high school graduation in 1967, he wanted to join the United States Army to fly helicopters in Vietnam. His older brother, Terry, helped him make a wise decision and instead talked him into joining the United States Air Force, where he served as an enlisted man in Turkey during the war. After his initial years of service, he visited an Air Force buddy in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, nestled near the Cherokee Nation, and Rod loved it so much he stayed to attend college at Northeastern State University, majoring in tourism management. While there, he served as president of his Acacia Fraternity, and later would share that sometimes the people that serve in positions of leadership are just the ones that step up for the responsibility. After finishing school, he married the love of his life, Lynn Cheryl Plahn, on July 4, 1976, in a small, beautiful chapel in Homer, Iowa. They returned to Oklahoma, this time to Weatherford, where Rod worked at Southwestern Oklahoma State as a business development program facilitator to connect local businesses with professors who could assist fledgling businesses thrive. It was also there that Rod opened the door to the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and invited them in while he put down his beer bottle and put out his cigarette. The family joined the faith, and Rod and Lynn were later sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. From there, Rod dabbled in various ventures that took them back to Iowa before stepping up for the responsibility of rejoining the Air Force as a commissioned officer. Life in the Air Force took the family to California, Missouri, Arizona, England, Virginia, and finally, Germany. Rod started off his military career reboot as a Minuteman missile officer, and then transitioned into Disaster Preparedness. His accolades include: in Strategic Air Command, he and his partner were the first team in the world to be certified for the Cruise missile project while stationed at Greenham Common, England; in Tactical Air Command in Virginia, he was Officer of the Year and separately was part of Office of the Year for Disaster Preparedness; he served in Turkey, once again, during Desert Storm in the early 1990s, training the troops in how to defend against chemical weapons; and he earned two master's degrees while in the Air Force, the first in International Relations and the second in Safety Management. Like most, his children had no idea what Rod did at work, but they know it was "top secret." After leaving of the military, life took Rod and family back and forth between Iowa and Colorado before ultimately landing in Utah. His experience led him into a variety of different occupations following the military, but most notably, he spent several years with DMBA in Salt Lake City, until he retired. Rod went back to work at Riverview Elementary, where he felt drawn to help children with special needs. During their life together, Rod and Lynn raised six unique children. He was the perfect father for their imperfect family; he made each feel loved and special. Rod and Lynn spent all of their time, talents and resources helping their children and grandchildren. At one point, Rod felt the need to pass along life skills to his grandchildren and implemented Maurice School, lovingly named after his father, and spent the summer teaching the kids how to work in the garden, how to write a handwritten thank you card, etc. In this life, Rod loved nothing more than cars, motorcycles and Route 66, a love that he shares with his brother, Garwin, who owns Teepee Curios on the Route in Tucumcari, New Mexico. During his lifetime, Rod lived in more than 50 homes, owned almost double that many cars, loved riding his Harley with the wind in his face, and loved Yorkies. He was a patient father in life, and he was asked to be patient in death. Rodney Dale Engman passed away peacefully the morning of May 1, 2019, at home in Lehi, Utah, after a 14-month battle with brain cancer. In truth, he fought longer than that, we just didn't know earlier. He was 70 years old.
Family Message: "We know he was welcomed home by his parents and brothers. We look forward to riding the open highway in heaven with him again."
Survived By: His wife, Lynn; his children: Angela Marie Huntington, Gabriel Izaak Engman (Deborah), Zachary Abraham Engman (Esther), Sarah Jane Weidauer (Scott), Seth Aaron Engman (Nicole), and Samantha Michelle Cornia (Nathan); 19 grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and his brother, Garwin Lear Engman (Heidi).
Preceded In Death By: His parents and two brothers, Terry and Doran.
Arrangements and Obituary: © 2019 May | Wing Mortuary
Service: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Lehi South Stake Center | Utah
Interment: Utah State Veterans Memorial Park
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
Rodney Dale "Rod" Engman
1948 - 2019
VETERAN
Early Life: Rodney "Rod" was born December 17, 1948, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Maurice Richard Engman and Rosalie Ardell Sandholm Engman. He grew up in the small Iowa town of Dayton, where he learned to appreciate cars, ride motorcycles, work for what he got, and love and care for people. Rod has always loved family and especially his brothers. He and Doran, his brother just a year older, were more than brothers, they were best friends and spent much of their time together. Rod earned many awards, including a trip to Chicago with Doran, for selling newspaper subscriptions at the age of 12. In a tragic accident one summer, Doran drowned while racing Rod in a swim across the quarry. This experience left an indelible mark on his life, and most likely, in how he cared for all of his family and loved ones.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: Following high school graduation in 1967, he wanted to join the United States Army to fly helicopters in Vietnam. His older brother, Terry, helped him make a wise decision and instead talked him into joining the United States Air Force, where he served as an enlisted man in Turkey during the war. After his initial years of service, he visited an Air Force buddy in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, nestled near the Cherokee Nation, and Rod loved it so much he stayed to attend college at Northeastern State University, majoring in tourism management. While there, he served as president of his Acacia Fraternity, and later would share that sometimes the people that serve in positions of leadership are just the ones that step up for the responsibility. After finishing school, he married the love of his life, Lynn Cheryl Plahn, on July 4, 1976, in a small, beautiful chapel in Homer, Iowa. They returned to Oklahoma, this time to Weatherford, where Rod worked at Southwestern Oklahoma State as a business development program facilitator to connect local businesses with professors who could assist fledgling businesses thrive. It was also there that Rod opened the door to the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and invited them in while he put down his beer bottle and put out his cigarette. The family joined the faith, and Rod and Lynn were later sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. From there, Rod dabbled in various ventures that took them back to Iowa before stepping up for the responsibility of rejoining the Air Force as a commissioned officer. Life in the Air Force took the family to California, Missouri, Arizona, England, Virginia, and finally, Germany. Rod started off his military career reboot as a Minuteman missile officer, and then transitioned into Disaster Preparedness. His accolades include: in Strategic Air Command, he and his partner were the first team in the world to be certified for the Cruise missile project while stationed at Greenham Common, England; in Tactical Air Command in Virginia, he was Officer of the Year and separately was part of Office of the Year for Disaster Preparedness; he served in Turkey, once again, during Desert Storm in the early 1990s, training the troops in how to defend against chemical weapons; and he earned two master's degrees while in the Air Force, the first in International Relations and the second in Safety Management. Like most, his children had no idea what Rod did at work, but they know it was "top secret." After leaving of the military, life took Rod and family back and forth between Iowa and Colorado before ultimately landing in Utah. His experience led him into a variety of different occupations following the military, but most notably, he spent several years with DMBA in Salt Lake City, until he retired. Rod went back to work at Riverview Elementary, where he felt drawn to help children with special needs. During their life together, Rod and Lynn raised six unique children. He was the perfect father for their imperfect family; he made each feel loved and special. Rod and Lynn spent all of their time, talents and resources helping their children and grandchildren. At one point, Rod felt the need to pass along life skills to his grandchildren and implemented Maurice School, lovingly named after his father, and spent the summer teaching the kids how to work in the garden, how to write a handwritten thank you card, etc. In this life, Rod loved nothing more than cars, motorcycles and Route 66, a love that he shares with his brother, Garwin, who owns Teepee Curios on the Route in Tucumcari, New Mexico. During his lifetime, Rod lived in more than 50 homes, owned almost double that many cars, loved riding his Harley with the wind in his face, and loved Yorkies. He was a patient father in life, and he was asked to be patient in death. Rodney Dale Engman passed away peacefully the morning of May 1, 2019, at home in Lehi, Utah, after a 14-month battle with brain cancer. In truth, he fought longer than that, we just didn't know earlier. He was 70 years old.
Family Message: "We know he was welcomed home by his parents and brothers. We look forward to riding the open highway in heaven with him again."
Survived By: His wife, Lynn; his children: Angela Marie Huntington, Gabriel Izaak Engman (Deborah), Zachary Abraham Engman (Esther), Sarah Jane Weidauer (Scott), Seth Aaron Engman (Nicole), and Samantha Michelle Cornia (Nathan); 19 grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and his brother, Garwin Lear Engman (Heidi).
Preceded In Death By: His parents and two brothers, Terry and Doran.
Arrangements and Obituary: © 2019 May | Wing Mortuary
Service: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Lehi South Stake Center | Utah
Interment: Utah State Veterans Memorial Park
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1948 - 2019
VETERAN
Early Life: Rodney "Rod" was born December 17, 1948, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Maurice Richard Engman and Rosalie Ardell Sandholm Engman. He grew up in the small Iowa town of Dayton, where he learned to appreciate cars, ride motorcycles, work for what he got, and love and care for people. Rod has always loved family and especially his brothers. He and Doran, his brother just a year older, were more than brothers, they were best friends and spent much of their time together. Rod earned many awards, including a trip to Chicago with Doran, for selling newspaper subscriptions at the age of 12. In a tragic accident one summer, Doran drowned while racing Rod in a swim across the quarry. This experience left an indelible mark on his life, and most likely, in how he cared for all of his family and loved ones.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: Following high school graduation in 1967, he wanted to join the United States Army to fly helicopters in Vietnam. His older brother, Terry, helped him make a wise decision and instead talked him into joining the United States Air Force, where he served as an enlisted man in Turkey during the war. After his initial years of service, he visited an Air Force buddy in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, nestled near the Cherokee Nation, and Rod loved it so much he stayed to attend college at Northeastern State University, majoring in tourism management. While there, he served as president of his Acacia Fraternity, and later would share that sometimes the people that serve in positions of leadership are just the ones that step up for the responsibility. After finishing school, he married the love of his life, Lynn Cheryl Plahn, on July 4, 1976, in a small, beautiful chapel in Homer, Iowa. They returned to Oklahoma, this time to Weatherford, where Rod worked at Southwestern Oklahoma State as a business development program facilitator to connect local businesses with professors who could assist fledgling businesses thrive. It was also there that Rod opened the door to the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and invited them in while he put down his beer bottle and put out his cigarette. The family joined the faith, and Rod and Lynn were later sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. From there, Rod dabbled in various ventures that took them back to Iowa before stepping up for the responsibility of rejoining the Air Force as a commissioned officer. Life in the Air Force took the family to California, Missouri, Arizona, England, Virginia, and finally, Germany. Rod started off his military career reboot as a Minuteman missile officer, and then transitioned into Disaster Preparedness. His accolades include: in Strategic Air Command, he and his partner were the first team in the world to be certified for the Cruise missile project while stationed at Greenham Common, England; in Tactical Air Command in Virginia, he was Officer of the Year and separately was part of Office of the Year for Disaster Preparedness; he served in Turkey, once again, during Desert Storm in the early 1990s, training the troops in how to defend against chemical weapons; and he earned two master's degrees while in the Air Force, the first in International Relations and the second in Safety Management. Like most, his children had no idea what Rod did at work, but they know it was "top secret." After leaving of the military, life took Rod and family back and forth between Iowa and Colorado before ultimately landing in Utah. His experience led him into a variety of different occupations following the military, but most notably, he spent several years with DMBA in Salt Lake City, until he retired. Rod went back to work at Riverview Elementary, where he felt drawn to help children with special needs. During their life together, Rod and Lynn raised six unique children. He was the perfect father for their imperfect family; he made each feel loved and special. Rod and Lynn spent all of their time, talents and resources helping their children and grandchildren. At one point, Rod felt the need to pass along life skills to his grandchildren and implemented Maurice School, lovingly named after his father, and spent the summer teaching the kids how to work in the garden, how to write a handwritten thank you card, etc. In this life, Rod loved nothing more than cars, motorcycles and Route 66, a love that he shares with his brother, Garwin, who owns Teepee Curios on the Route in Tucumcari, New Mexico. During his lifetime, Rod lived in more than 50 homes, owned almost double that many cars, loved riding his Harley with the wind in his face, and loved Yorkies. He was a patient father in life, and he was asked to be patient in death. Rodney Dale Engman passed away peacefully the morning of May 1, 2019, at home in Lehi, Utah, after a 14-month battle with brain cancer. In truth, he fought longer than that, we just didn't know earlier. He was 70 years old.
Family Message: "We know he was welcomed home by his parents and brothers. We look forward to riding the open highway in heaven with him again."
Survived By: His wife, Lynn; his children: Angela Marie Huntington, Gabriel Izaak Engman (Deborah), Zachary Abraham Engman (Esther), Sarah Jane Weidauer (Scott), Seth Aaron Engman (Nicole), and Samantha Michelle Cornia (Nathan); 19 grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and his brother, Garwin Lear Engman (Heidi).
Preceded In Death By: His parents and two brothers, Terry and Doran.
Arrangements and Obituary: © 2019 May | Wing Mortuary
Service: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Lehi South Stake Center | Utah
Interment: Utah State Veterans Memorial Park
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
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