Captain Paul Engel (April 2, 1939-June 13, 2024)

In his own words written before his death:

Dear Friends,

If you are reading this, then I guess you are here to say Goodbye!

Don’t grieve for me! We are given a life to live and I have been blessed to have done/seen/tasted/felt and experienced more than most. I have been blessed with a good wife (Billie Sue) and all my children. Life to me is a series of adventures and experiences and I’ve had more than most people in this little slice of existence that I was given! From guiding submarines under the ocean to flying off aircraft carriers in Navy fighters to carrying passengers in airliners around the world to guiding yachts as a past time. I’ve climbed the Rock of Gibraltar, the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico, and Ayer’s Rock in Australia. I’ve walked the Streets of Paris, Rome, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Beirut, Tokyo, Athens, L.A., NY, Sydney, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Barcelona, London, and the alleys of the Casbah in Morocco. I’ve sailed in Africa and been in the jungles of South America. I’ve sailed across the Atlantic in a 50’ catamaran, I’ve scuba-dived and sailed the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean, and Rio Plata. I’ve seen the Rockies, the Andes, The Alps, The Sierras, Mt. Rainer, St. Helena, Ascension, Tristan de Cunha, the Matter Horn, Mt. Whitney. I’ve been to the Islands of the world such as Hawaii, Australia, Crete, Rhodes, Mallorca, Mykonos, British Isles, Japan. I’ve tried hang gliding, windsurfing, bungee jumping, white water river rapids riding, gliders, parasailing, sky diving, hot air ballooning. I’ve raced sailboats and sports cars. I’ve been north in Labrador to the end of all roads, and south to the tip of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, sailed the East Coast from Canada to Florida, from Florida to the Bahamas. I’ve been on game shows, served on a Presidential committee representing airline pilots, and am proud to know that one of the planes I flew, a Ford Trimotor, is hanging in the Smithsonian. If life were graded on what you’ve done then I guess I’d pass (I’m not sure how we are graded)! As I’ve said, I’ve been blessed with a good life and a good wife, and now I’m off on another adventure (one we must all eventually take). I can’t wait to see what's there. Hopefully someday God willing, we will all meet again!!! As Helen Keller said, those who don’t dare to take a risk don’t truly live!

- Paul 

Capt. Paul Engel passed away on June 13th, 2024, aged 85, in Apple Valley, Minnesota after living his life to the fullest. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1939 to Paul and Arlene Engel and grew up in Tacoma, Washington with his parents and sisters, Colette “Coco” and Rosemarie “Rosie”. Throughout his childhood and teenage years Paul equally excelled in sports and in antics that reportedly turned his mother’s hair white at an early age. Paul loved adventure and a rush of adrenaline. After a brief stint at Pacific Lutheran University studying to become a priest, he joined the U.S Navy and became a Naval Aviator. He was proud to have been a Veteran and was grateful that his military service enabled him to become a commercial airline pilot for American Airlines, a career he enjoyed for 33-years. While living in Virginia Beach, Virginia he met his wife, Billie Sue, with whom he shared a long and loving marriage. His career took them to his final base in South Florida where they lived happily for 30 years. He loved Ft. Lauderdale which was an ideal location for his other favorite pastime, boating. Throughout his life, he enjoyed sailing and in his younger days participated in sailing races all over the world. Across the years, Paul relished many leisurely boat cruises accompanied by his family, friends, a good boat drink, and Jimmy Buffet piped over the speakers. Even as he aged he never shied from adventure, completing a transatlantic crossing aboard a 50 ft catamaran in his 60s. After retiring, Paul loved traveling the world with his wife and hosting dinner parties where he regaled friends with tales of his adventures over bottles of wine. In 2018 Paul and his wife moved to Minnesota where he enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing lifestyle with his wife, daughter, Lisa, son-in-law, Travis, and grandkids, Alexandra (Allie) and Grayson. Paul battled cancer many times and won; the same could not be said for his battle with vascular dementia. He is survived by his wife, Billie Sue, daughter Lisa (Travis), and grandchildren, Allie and Grayson, who celebrate his life lovingly. He is also survived by his son Chris, daughter Robin (Kevin) and family (Christina, Kayleigh, Courtney, and Kevin); sister, Rosie, and many extended family members and friends. Paul is preceded in death by his mother, Arlene; father, Paul; sister, Coco; and son, Eric. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Donations in his honor may be directed to the American Cancer Society, American Brain Foundation, or your local hospice organization.   

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