Mary Ellen Engelkens

Mary Ellen Engelkens was born August 9, 1937 to Effie (Talmadge) and Warren Plummer at Dixon, Illinois. She passed away Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at WinnPrairie Nursing Center following a brief illness. Mary and Edgar  Engelkens were married October 26, 1958 and lived on the family farm on Henderson Road from 1960 until 2024. They had 4 children: Karen (Roger) Wilhelms, Brian (Carol) Engelkens, Scott Engelkens, and Gail (Brian Ginn) Engelkens, all are from Freeport, IL. She had 12 grandchildren: Stephanie (Dan) Monigold LeRoy, IL., Christian (Shannon) Wilhelms Waukesha, WI., Sarah (Braden Curtis) Wilhelms Kaukauna, WI., Chad Wilhelms Freeport, IL., Mark (Kimberly) Engelkens and Katie Engelkens both from Freeport, IL., Brandon (Dana Chorley) Engelkens Pecatonica, IL., Adam Engelkens Freeport, IL., Brian G. Ginn and Brody Ginn both from Rockford, IL, Mary C. (Christian) Pacheco Dubuque, IA., and Molly Ginn Freeport, IL. She also has 5 great grandchildren: Lily Monigold, LeRoy, IL., DeShea Wilhelms and Kyrie Wilhelms both from Waukesha, WI., Ellie Engelkens, and Lilly Engelkens both from Freeport, IL.

Mary was predeased by both parents, Effie (Talmadge) Plummer and Warren Plummer and also a stepmother Mary Plummer. Her sister, Bernice (David) Miller, brothers Lester (Donna) Schick and Harry (Dorothy) Schick. Husband Edgar Engelkens and sister-in- laws Eileen Engelkens and Midge Engelkens and nephews Eric Engelkens and Todd Engelkens.

Mary had a distinguished career as a registered nurse, graduating in 1958 from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing (now know as FHN Hospital). Her career was multi-faceted with working in the hospital, occupational health nurse, Director of Nursing at Freeport Manor, and working with workmen’s compensation. Places of employment: St. Francis Hospital, Freeport Memorial Hospital with many years in obstetrics and medical surgical units, Occupational Health Nursing at Thermos, Sauer Sunstrand, and Newell, Workmen’s compensation with Corvel, and Disability Management. She held membership in the Occupational Health Nurse’s organization. Even with all of this, she realized a need for an ambulance service in rural Freeport and one of the founding members of the Freeport Rural Ambulance Service. She went back to be school as an emergency medical technician and served the ambulance with set-up and ambulance calls, along with her husband, Edgar. She was also an instructor for the American Red Cross, teaching First Aid and CPR classes. Mary had the recent designation of a living memorial with the Forest City National Nurse Guard on August 12, 2025 at WinnPrairie with other retired nurses living there.

When Mary wasn’t busy with her nursing career, she found time to be a 4-H leader for many years, served on the Beef Auxilary with selection of Beef Royalty to promote beef at the fairs and other community events. She was one of the founders of the Beef Corral at the fair and also served for a number of years as the Beef Superintendent at the Stephenson County Fair.

For the people closest to her, she was an excellent cook and was known for making dinner rolls and sweet breads. She loved her family pets, camping, fishing, and farm life. She loved to travel and visited Denmark, Sweden, Italy and the Bahamas. She also was very caring and worked with many farm animals on the farm. For everyone that knew her, she was considered as the Mother of all Mothers.

Memorial services will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at Faith United Methodist Church, Pastor Joel McClellan officiaitng.  Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial of cremated remains will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens next to her husband Edgar.  In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Mary's memory.