MORRIS JOHN ENGELKE, JR Aug. 27, 2025

Morris John Engelke, Jr., 84, passed away on August 27, 2025, in Windsor, Colorado, due to complications from a longstanding illness related to a military service-connected disability.

Born in 1941 in Salt Lake City, Utah, he spent his formative years in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where his father worked as a physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, focusing on small reactor research and health physics.

Morris earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, followed by a master’s degree in business administration and a second master’s in hydrology.

His distinguished career in federal service included roles with the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), where he oversaw mineral rights, specializing in petroleum interests. His passion for biology led to notable contributions in entomology, including the cataloging of previously unrecognized Great Plains insect subspecies. His work spanned Alaska, California, Ohio, and Wyoming.

An avid outdoorsman and hunter, Morris found solace in nature’s beauty. His commitment to service was evident when he enlisted in the US Army in 1966 during the geopolitical tensions of the era. Trained as an armored crewman, he rose to the highest enlisted rank of Specialist and served his final deployment with the 70th Armored Division in the 7th US Army in Germany. After an honorable discharge, he remained active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion.

A devout Catholic, Morris’ faith was a guiding light. As a young altar boy at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos, he developed a lifelong spirituality. Facing a life-altering illness, he lived by his vow to “never give up,” inspired by John 16:33: “But have confidence, I have overcome the world” (Douay-Rheims).

In retirement, Morris enjoyed ranching and fishing near Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he spent much of his career.

He is survived by his son, John Engelke of Los Angeles, California; his sisters, Mary Girvin of Prescott, Arizona, and Nancy Dicks of Fort Myers, Florida; his grandson, Liam; and his daughter-in-law, Mimi.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

Morris John Engelke, far left. Courtesy photo