Viola A. Engemann

Viola Adelia Engemann, 91, passed away Monday, March 29.  She was born September 27, 1929, in Marthasville, MO to Norbert and Leona Ruether nee Hellebusch.  She was married to Alvin Engemann May 20, 1950.  Mr. Engemann died April 27, 2012. 

Viola was the most kind-hearted and hardest working woman you could meet.  She was an amazing blend of MacGyver and June Cleaver.  Fate threw her into the role of caregiver at a very early age. She managed the household for her mother who was confined to a wheelchair and attended to her father and four brothers.  It was in those  years that Viola developed traits of deep resourcefulness and empathy.  Once married she raised six children while Alvin started and grew Marthasville Feed & Supply (now Backes and Toelke Agri-Products).  She might can 120 quarts of peaches from her home orchard in the morning and still be ready to dance at the American Legion that night. She liked to have fun.

In 1977 Alvin and Viola sold the grain mill and moved with most of their family to Livonia, Louisiana.  She truly loved her years living in the South, developing many new friendships as well as cooking skills. In 1988, she and Alvin retired to Washington.  Viola loved quilting. Tuesdays she quilted at Borgia, Wednesdays at Lourdes and every other Thursday at Concord Hill. She was a busy octogenarian. 

Her proudest role was that of mother and she was devoted to her family.  She was loved dearly and will be missed by her six children Janice Meyer, Nancy Brinker and husband Don, Mark Engemann and wife Ellen, Lisa Darling and husband Charles, Curt Engemann and wife Lucille, Julie Harrison and husband David.  She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, brothers Maurice Ruether and John Ruether and wife Judy, sister-in-law Evelyn Engemann, many friends and extended family. 

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated April 24, 2021 at 10:00 A.M., at St. Francis Borgia. 

Memorials may be made to St. Francis Borgia Parish, Washington, MO or St. Vincent de Paul, Marthasville, MO. or Unbound, Kansas City, MO. Unbound is an international nonprofit that supports people in underdeveloped countries.  For decades Alvin and Viola have sponsored girls’ education through this organization. 

Arrangements in care of Nieburg-Vitt, Miller Funeral Home, Washington.

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