Barbara Joyce Englert

Barbara Joyce Englert, age 75, a long time Park Rapids, MN area resident, peacefully passed into eternity on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at the Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga, MN. Barb was born on March 23, 1938 in Waterloo, Iowa to Dale and Frances (Hubbard) Buck. As a child she moved with her family to a farm near Malmo, MN where she attended public school. At the age of 16, she ventured to Minneapolis where she worked as a nanny and completed her high school education. While in Minneapolis, she met and fell in love with Lyle Joseph Englert. They were married on April 4, 1964. In addition to devoting her life to making a warm and loving home for her family, Barb also worked as a waitress in Minneapolis for a number of years. In 1971, she and Lyle moved to Park Rapids where they farmed for a time. In 1975, they purchased Delaney's Sports which she helped operate until they sold the store and retired in 1993. Barb had a passion for old time dancing and for creating customized greeting cards which she would often send to family and friends. In 1999, she endured the heartache of her husband's death. Since 2010, Barb had enjoyed the friendship of a special companion, Sam Erickson. They spent their spare time garage saling and had enjoyed spending the last several winters in Arizona. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Debbie (Kevin) Lempola of Park Rapids; her three grandchildren: Luke (Jessie) Wattenhofer and Levi (Brandi) Wattenhofer all of Menahga and Elizabeth Lempola attending College at the University of MN-Moorhead; her six precious great grandchildren: Hailee, Clayton, Kassiah, Kyla, Chloe and Belle; her two sisters: Sharon and Judy and her three brothers: Stanley, Jim and Gary; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Barb was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; 2 sisters: Willie and Linda and one brother, Swede. Memorial services will be held 11 AM Sunday, February 2, 2014 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home with the Reverend Joe Hanes officiating. Her great grandchildren will sing, "Jesus Loves Me". Her grandchildren will serve as her urn bearers. Special musical tributes will be played from the Jones-Pearson CD library: "When I Get Where I'm Going", "Temporary Home" and "I Can Only Imagine". Burial will be held at the Greenwood Cemetery of Park Rapids in the spring.