Carl J. Engaldo

Carl J. Engaldo, 91, Rockford, formerly of Savanna, passed away Wednesday, February 7, 2018, in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born August 16, 1926, in Savanna, the son of Jake and Mildred (Lahre) Engaldo. Carl attended St. John’s Grade School and Savanna High School, graduating with the class of 1944. He married Cheryl Jean Schroeder at St. John the Baptist Church in Savanna on July 6, 1946. Carl worked for the Milwaukee Road Railroad from 1946 until 1980, holding a variety of supervisory and management positions in the car department, primarily in Savanna, but with short assignments in Dubuque, IA and Milwaukee, WI. When the Soo Line Railroad acquired the Milwaukee Road in 1980, Carl was appointed the superintendent of the car and locomotive departments of the southern division, a position which he held until his retirement in 1985, after nearly 40 years of railroad service. In 1986, Carl and Cheryl sold the home they had built in Savanna in 1970, and moved to Rockford to be closer to their children and grandchildren. On October 29, 2001, Carl unexpectedly lost his beloved wife, Cheryl, after 55 years of marriage. Carl was an avid sports fan his entire life and a very gifted athlete as a young man. In high school Carl was a three sport athlete each year and was named to both the All Conference basketball and football teams his junior and senior years. Carl also had the distinction of being named to the Illinois All State football team his senior year receiving a football scholarship to Notre Dame, where he played for one season before injuries ended his career. In addition, Carl was an inductee into the Northwest Illinois Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. Carl was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish, hunt and trap, pastimes he enjoyed for many years with three generations of his family.
Carl will be dearly missed by his wife, Barbara (Swanson) Engaldo whom he married on October 9, 2003. They spent 14 happy years together and made many wonderful memories cruising to Alaska and the Caribbean. Carl is also survived by three children, David (Kay) Engaldo of Savanna, Connie (Pierre) Bonjour of Stansbury Park, UT, and Cathy (Mike) Spencer of Lena; step-daughter, Judy (Tom) Coe and 2 step grandsons, Tim and Danny Coe; 6 grandchildren, Jeff (Melissa) Engaldo, Jennifer (Norm) Sidler, Steven (Lauren) Bonjour, Chris Bonjour, Catie Szewczyk, and Jonathan Szewczyk; 10 great grandchildren, Dylan and Lauren Engaldo, Jack, Aerin, and Kyle Sidler, Olivia, Isla, Brent, Claire, and Luke Bonjour; Carl’s former son-in-law, Dr. John Szewczyk. Carl was predeceased by his first wife, Cheryl (Schroeder) Engaldo and his 2 brothers, Billy and Joseph; daughter-in-law, Nena Melendy Engaldo. Special thanks to the OSF Hospice team and Dr. Harvey Einhorn.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, February 12, 2018, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural St. Burial will be in Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10: 00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. on Monday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Arrangements by Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.