Alfred Earl Engle lost his battle with Central Nervous System Lymphoma at his home on July 30, 2021. Al was born on January 17, 1958 in Hermosa Beach, California. His family moved back to his mother's home state of Iowa in 1960 making their home in Evansdale for the majority of his childhood. He attended East High School in Waterloo as a member of the class of 1976 until he departed early to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps from 1975 to 1979. He returned to Iowa where his daughter was born in 1981. He attended DMACC where he met his wife, Angie, in 1985. They were married in 1989.
Standing at 6'6" Al was larger than life with a booming voice and an infectious laugh. Al was an original gamer starting with Dungeons and Dragons and table top games and graduating to computer games in the 21st century. Seldom a day went by where he wasn't gaming. He was a lover of all things science fiction and fantasy with a particular fondness for Star Trek, Star Wars, Robert Jordan novels, and all things dragon. He spent his Saturdays each fall rooting for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Al was always willing to speak up in the face of injustice, hold strong to his values, and to challenge mistruths and idiocy. As he entered his later years his greatest joy was plying his grandchildren with Hershey Kisses and M&M's against their mother's will and they lovingly referred to him as Papa Chocolate as a result. He always said grandchildren and grandparents were united by a common enemy.
He is survived by the love of his life, Sam the Lhaso Apso, his wife Angie, his daughter Danielle (Justin) Lekin, his grandchildren Libby Albright and Fletcher Lekin, his mother Arnette Bush, his siblings Kenneth (Maryann) Engle, Daniel (Roberta) Engle, Dianna (Tim) Miltenberger, Susan (Roy) Henkle, and Geri Brouwer, his mother and father in law Diana and Lyle Parson and brother in law David (Lisa) Parson and several nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by his father and stepmother, Stewart and Joyce Engle.
Al was cremated August 2, 2021 and the family will host a celebration of life at a later date.
