Esther Grace (Raser) Engle
ESTHER GRACE (RASER) ENGLE Died January 16, 2026, at the age of 95. She was born in Iowa into a closeknit, hard-working family in 1930, the fifth of seven children born to Rudolph and Myra (Nissly) Raser. She spoke fondly of beloved cousins and friends of her youth. Her childhood during the Depression and WWII prepared her well for the future, and she had a practical and positive approach to life.
Esther met Earl W. Engle at a Christian youth camp in Kansas, and they married in 1950. They were helpmates to each other until his death in 2011. Their growing family located in Colorado Springs in 1960, where Earl was a minister and then teacher and counselor for District 11. Esther worked as an administrative assistant for District 11 after her children were in school, finishing that career as secretary to the principal at Mitchell High School. In service to others, Esther was a wonderful cook, clever seamstress, generous hostess to many, flower gardener, letter writer, reunion planner for two extended families whom she loved, and talented pianist and organist—she played for eight decades in the churches she attended.
Esther and Earl retired in 1987, and moved to the Greenhorn Valley of southern Colorado. They worshipped at the Valley Community Church and were active in the Colorado City community. Esther especially enjoyed the Alpha Circle at church and her book club. She was an avid reader all her life. Esther and Earl were privileged to travel nationally and worldwide, and she documented each trip in well-narrated photo albums. She loved the mountains, trees, rocks, and rills that surrounded her home and delighted in watching the clouds, birds, and wild animals that paraded past her front windows.
Esther’s children Jan Lewis (deceased), Susan and Keith Heise, Wendell and Michele Engle, Melissa and Michael Parks, and Melanie and Frank Palcic were blessed with, and are so grateful for, Esther’s life and legacy of love. She was witty, vibrant, and a life-long learner. She treated others with respect and kindness.Her twelve grandchildren adored her and delighted in her unconditional love, spunk, and honesty—and the occasional breakout of appropriate poetry or song. She shared with them the secret of the snapdragon and her appreciation and care for nature. And they have the comforting quilts she made! Her eight great-grandchildren will carry on the memory of GG—the old lady with the crown of white hair who engaged them with a twinkle in her eye.
Esther traveled through the sorrows and infirmities of life with grace, courage, and gratitude. She lived a life of love, peace, joy, and service to others; blessed and enabled by her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. According to Esther’s wishes, there will be a private family celebration of her life. Blessings to all who knew and loved her!
