Al Engel

Alois M “Al” Engel Jr, 87, died Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at McPherson, KS.

Al, the 13th child of Alois A and Caroline Befort Engel, was born in Hays, Kansas. He attended Hays High School until 1956, when he left to join the Navy, two days after his 17th birthday, needing his mother’s signature for permission to enlist as a minor. He was an ACWAN E3 Search Operator and was honorably discharged after four years of active duty and two years in the reserves.

After basic training and transfers to several locations, he was stationed at Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Oahu, Hawaii for 3 years. He was a radar operator for the VW14, a fixed-wing Airborne Early Warning Squadron, with a patrol assignment from Midway Atoll to Adak Island, Alaska, a standard round-trip exceeding 3,000 miles and typically lasting about 15 hours. The 1956 air patrol from Midway to Alaska was a cornerstone of the Pacific Barrier, an extension of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line designed to detect Soviet bombers approaching North America from the Pacific. He was immensely proud of his service, and his stories were a topic of many conversations right up until his death.

After the Navy, his favorite pastimes were bowling, golf, and following the Kansas City Chiefs and Jayhawks sports teams. As the co-owner and manager of Centennial Lanes in Hays, he fine-tuned his bowling game and was inducted into the Bowling Halls of Fame in both Hays and McPherson. Some of his favorite memories included receiving a plaque for his participation in 25 National Bowling Tournaments, receiving his 299 ring, having 100+ 700 series, maintaining an average of 216 for many years and being able to bowl (and compete) with his siblings, children and grandchildren.

Speaking of children, Al started his family in Hays with his first wife Donna Marie Dreiling in 1961 with the birth of his son Greg. Soon to follow were Mike, Timothy, Chris and Caroline. In 1976, he married Lela Ann Becker and in 1977, they added Brian to the family. In 1979, they moved to McPherson and opened a new branch of the family business, Becker Tire of McPherson, where Al was co-owner and manager until his retirement in 2009.

Al is survived by his wife Ann, children Greg (Jolene), Brian (Laura), Chris, Mike (Dawn), Caroline (Chris); grandchildren Curtis (Hillary), Cameron (Paige), & Sawyer; great-grandchildren Hayden, Noah and Emily. He was preceded in death by his son Timothy, his parents and siblings.

A Celebration of Life (come and go) will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Stockham Family Funeral Home in McPherson. A graveside service with Military Honors will be held on Saturday, October 24, at 1:00 PM at the Saint Joseph Cemetery in Hays, KS.

If you wish to honor Al’s memory, donations can be made to Great Plains SPCA (where he chose his longtime canine companion Hailee) or to an animal rescue of your choice, all in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.