Judith “Judy” Clare Engelland, 83, died Feb. 6, 2023, in Sterling, Kansas, after a long battle with scleroderma. She was at peace and surrounded by family as she went to be with her Lord.
Judy was born May 9, 1939, to James and Barbara Buel of Sterling. She graduated from Sterling High School in 1957 and married her high school sweetheart John Engelland on August 28, 1960.
Early in their marriage, they lived in Lawrence while John completed his engineering degree at the University of Kansas and Judy worked in administration at the KU math department. They then moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for John’s work. Their oldest son Shawn was born there. Then they moved to Rose Hill, Kansas, to be closer to family, where sons Mark and Brent were born.
In 1974, the family returned to Sterling to take over the family farm. Sterling was Judy’s home the rest of her life. While John handled the farm, Judy took charge of the accounting. The couple earned the Kansas Master Farmer and Farm Homemaker award in 1992 for leadership and service to agriculture.
Faith and family were central to her life. She enjoyed working with youth in Albuquerque, Rose Hill, and at Sterling First United Methodist Church, where she was a member for more than 50 years. Whether working with youth or in other ministries, Judy put her faith into action. Whenever there was a church youth activity, you could find Judy working to make positive experiences for everyone. From opening her home to organizing mission trips to Mexico, Judy led by example. Throughout her life, her family counted on her as a faithful prayer warrior.
Judy enjoyed crafting and was an excellent cook and baker. She always made family gatherings and holidays special and treasured time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She and John traveled frequently. They enjoyed 40th and 50th anniversary trips with their children and grandchildren, first to Red River, New Mexico, and then on a Caribbean cruise. The highlight of the couple’s travels was a 2017 trip with their pastor to the Holy Land.
If you knew Judy, you were blessed. She treated everyone with kind, thoughtful attention, truly embodying Jesus’ command to put others before self. Her family and friends thank God for her because they received the rich blessing of her caring nature. She leaves behind a lasting legacy and example to follow.
She is survived by her faithful husband John; son Shawn and daughter in-law Sandra Engelland of Keller, Texas; son Mark and daughter in-law Sarah Engelland of Sterling; son Brent and daughter in-law Laura Engelland of Hutchinson; grandchildren Rachel, Elizabeth, Rebekah, Nathan, Dillon, Anna, Hannah, Jacob, Hayley, Marianna, and Evelyn; great grandsons Elliot and Lukas; sister Sally and brother in-law Jim Haggerty of Sterling; and brother Bob and sister in-law Vicki Buel of Manhattan.
Funeral service will be at 2:00pm Friday, Feb. 10, at the First United Methodist Church of Sterling. Burial at Sterling Cemetery will follow. Visitation will be 2pm to 7pm Thursday, Feb. 9, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling. Family will be present 5pm to 7pm.
Memorials may be made in the name of Judy Engelland to Sterling Village or to the National Scleroderma Foundation in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.