Jane Engleman

Jane Anne (Fisher) Engleman, 92, passed away peacefully at her home in Lawrence, Kan., June 6, 2013. She was born September 17, 1920 in Wichita Falls, Texas, daughter of William L. and Valeria Belle (Astin) Fisher. She married the love of her life, Dale Engleman on November 21, 1944 in Wichita Falls, Texas. He died October 17, 2005.
Moving to Pasadena, Calif., at an early age, she attended elementary and junior high school and Pasadena Playhouse School of Theater. Later she moved to Hollywood, Calif., where she graduated from Hollywood High School and Los Angeles City College Theater Academy, with classes from UCLA.
She was active in theatre, working with Al Woods Productions, Domino Theatre, and was under contract at Columbia Studios. During World War II she was employed at Lockheed Aircraft Company.
Jane and Dale moved to Great Bend, Kan., in 1947 from Hollywood. She was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church, Great Bend, where she taught Sunday school and served on many church committees including ministry and staff parish. She was also a longtime faithful attendee of First Christian Church, Great Bend. She was also a substitute teacher at Great Bend High School. She was a winner of NBC’s “Most Beautiful Voice in America” in 1957 and was elected to “Who’s Who of American Women”. She was integral in Great Bend Community Theatre, serving on the board of directors, acting and directing.
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, she was Women’s Program Director at KVGB Radio Station in Great Bend. After moving to Lawrence, Kan., in 2009, she was involved with the Lawrence Community Theatre and Vintage Players.
She was a lifetime Golden Girl member of PEO Chapter FS, Athenian Club, Bloomer Girls, and various other clubs and organizations. Survivors include two sons: Mark Engleman and his wife Janet Smalter and Steve Engleman, both of Lawrence, KS; and two grandchildren: Sam Engleman and Megan Engleman. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son, Scott T. Engleman, and sister Marguerite (Fisher) Kolp.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, June 10, 2013 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary, Lawrence. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at First Christian Church, Great Bend, with the Reverend William F. Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to the Scott Tucker Engleman Memorial Loan Fund, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family and the obituary viewed at www.bryantfh.net

3 Condolences

  1. Clenece Hills on June 8, 2013 at 12:56 pm

    Chapter GQ of the P.E.O. Sisterhood extends its sympathies to Jane’s family. What a remarkable woman she was! Please know that any one of us would be glad to be helpful to you if you contact us. Sincerely,
    Clenece Hills, president



  2. Bob and Lydia Evans on June 11, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Dear Mark, Steve and family, we had hoprd to make the visitation last night , but as a result of a recent fall, ER, etc., Bob is being given thrapy and just did not feel up to getting outt.. We loved Jane and Dale and know that you all will miss Jane vry much. Glad that we got to visit her and Stev recentlly. Condolences from our ffamily to yours. Love, Lydi and Bob



  3. Annette Collins on June 15, 2013 at 6:45 am

    Dear Steve and Mark, My mom, Arlie Seitz and I want you to know that our lives were made better by Jane’s cheery, determined, happy friendship and presence in our lives. Bill and I were out of town for 4 days and missed the sad news or we surely would have been to the visitation to let you know in person how very much we loved Jane and will miss her. I am certain that her sweet attention and loving kindness helped my mother and me transition through rehab and assisted living. Jane never failed to light up a room with her wonderful smile and happy laughter. She had such a positive attitude. I remember her saying how much she liked PT! She spoke often about how much her sons meant to her and how much she loved and missed her husband. She had such a spirit. I will always, always remember her. Annette Collins



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