Marian Engel

A funeral service celebrating the life of Marian A. Engel, 97, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at St. John Lutheran Church in Romeo, Michigan. Pastor James Engel, her grandson, will be celebrant. Burial to follow at Romeo Cemetery. Marian was born on November 3, 1919 to the late Edward and Anna (Gust) Townsend in Detroit, Michigan; and died on Thursday, October 26, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. Marian taught first grade beginning in 1941 in Royal Oak, then in a one room school house in Bruce Center. She went on to teach at Lakeville and Romeo schools. She was the first married woman, and the first woman with children, to teach in Romeo schools. She was very active at St. John Lutheran Church in Romeo, having taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for 26 years. She also participated in various Circles, the E.L.C.W. and taught others how to be teachers in the Blue Water Conference of the Lutheran Church. Most of all, she loved her family and grand children. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, gardening, baking and the Detroit Tigers. She is survived by her sons: David (Joanie) and Mark (Tina); her daughters: Judith Engel, Rachel (David) Hammer. Her grand-children: Jill (Matt) Hellman, Jim (Erica), Steven (Kristin), Amanda Engel, Joanna Engel, Claire Hammer and Russell Hammer; and her great-grand-children: Anna, Will, and Madeline Hellman and Ella Engel. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Louis; her daughter, Joann; her brother, Edward Townsend, and son-in-law David Hammer. Friends may call from 9:00 11:00 a.m., prior to the funeral service at St. John Lutheran Church, located at 246 Benjamin Street in Romeo. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Samaritas, formally Lutheran Social Services of Michigan at 8131 E. Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48214. The Hoskinson Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to care for the Engel family.