In Memoriam: Henry Engels

    James Henry Engels, Sr., was born February 26, 1927, in Plaquemine, Louisiana, and died at his home in Central on March 27, 2013.  

    Henry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Beverly Boudreaux Engels and their six children:  James Henry Engels, Jr. and Sheri Holifield of Baton Rouge; Cheryl and Paul Rioux of Watson; Gary and Melanie Engels of Kerens, Texas; Keith and Elizabeth Engels of Baton Rouge; Michael and Jami Engels of Greenwell Springs; and Eugene Engels of Central.  Henry is also survived by his sisters Julia E. Watts of Greenwell Springs and Jeanne Mae and Bill Hall of Galveston, Texas; as well as his brother Thomas M. and Shirley Engels, Sr. of Zachary and sisters-in-law, Verlin Murphy of Baton Rouge and Lottie Engels of Baker.  He will be greatly missed by his 17 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.  

    Henry is preceded in death by his parents, J. A. Engels, Sr. and Myrtis Marionneaux Engels, brothers J. Arthur Engels, Jr., J. Bertram Engels, Theon C. Engels, Fredrick G. Engels, and Fr. Eugene R. Engels as well as sisters Anna E. Babin and Sally E. Nijoka.  

    Henry studied at the seminary at St. Benedict’s in Covington.  He attended Baker High School and graduated in 1944 from Catholic High where he participated in football and boxing.  Henry served in the U.S Navy during World War II having been stationed in the Philippines at PT Boat Base 17 on Samar Island.  After being discharged, he attended LSU on the GI Bill.  Henry began a career with Exxon Chemical Company in Baton Rouge.  During his tenure with Exxon, he was a Stanocola Medical board member at the time the Stanocola building was constructed on South Foster.  The Engels family lived in Abadan, Iran, for two years where Henry was on loan to the Iranian Oil Company.  For the five years following his retirement in 1979, he designed training and safety programs for Placid Refining.  Then, he began the passion of his life and became an ordained minister.  He pastored a church in Plaquemine for two years and served as a visiting minister at nursing homes, hospitals, and with the National Guard.  He and Beverly did missionary work in Belize and Mexico.  Henry led many people to the Lord over his decades of ministry.  He ministered by word and by example.