Wilfred C. Englund

Wilfred “Will” Charles Englund, 83, passed away peacefully with his wife, Mary at his side on July 17, 2013 after a long illness. Will and Mary would have celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary on Saturday, July 20th.

Will Englund was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on August 30, 1929. He was the youngest of 4 children and was preceded in death by his parents, Myrtle Anderson and Herman Leroy Englund by his brother, “Gordy”.

Will is a veteran of World War II. He was stationed in Japan and was a decoderand was certified as a Rifleman. He was involved with the American Legion up until his death. He volunteered with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Theodore Hamm Post 5041 and reached the grade of Commander while living in Minnesota.

He started his working career as a buyer for Fairway Foods and eventually with Rightway Packaging . During his tenure with Rightway Packaging he became a broker. He left in 1977 and moved to Phoenix AZ.

He began working at the City of Phoenix Fire Department Resource Management eventually being promoted to the Supply Supervisor in 1985. In 1985, Will was also awarded Resource Management Outstanding Employee of the Year. Will retired in 1994 after 11 years of service. Will was very proud of his role in assisting the first responders in Phoenix. When he retired the Firefighters presented him with his own leather Firefighter helmet and a plaque with a Pulaski Axe, a firefighters tool. These items are highly esteemed and Will was very proud to have been awarded them.

Will remained close to his beloved ex-in-laws, Alfred and Audrey Wickoren and spent much time at their cabin fishing and hunting at Big Sandy in Northern Minnesota. Who can forget the board games and card games that were played at Big Sandy? One on his other athletic skills was bowling and he was on a league for many years. His talents also included fixing most things that were broken or breaking them so no one else could fix them! Woodworking and fixing cars were part of his leisure pursuits as wells.

After retirement, Mary and Will began to pursue the “fun things” in life. First staying in Minnesota during the summer, visiting with Will’s daughters and grandchildren. They had remained in close contact with many of their “Cobb Road” friends and enjoyed time spent with them. After a few summers, they decided to begin to cruise and see other parts of the world. They visited Alaska, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Panama Canal. Hawaii was also on their list of beautiful places to explore.

One of the things on Will’s “Bucket List” was to visit and fly the simulator at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson. Although he was able to get permission to do that through Hospice of AZ, his physical condition was not amenable to the process. The Lieutenant Colonel flew the simulator while Will observed. He and Mary also were allowed on the tarmac to watch the jets land.

Will is survived by his wife Mary, his daughters: Lynn Englund, Gayle Englund and her husband, Lars Strom, and Karen Steinle and her husband Dick. He has 4 loved grandchildren: Mara Patton Hendler, Hans and Nils Strom, and Ty Steinle. He has 2 great-grandsons, Michael and Evan. Will is also survived by his first wife, Joann, and his sisters Adelaine Nelson and Shirley Alle. He was loved by many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 9AM on Friday, August 30, Will’s 84th birthday, at Shadow Mountain Mortuary, 2350 East Greenway Rd, Phoenix AZ followed by internment at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024 .