Barbara Jean (Lakes) Engle, 76, passed away on Friday, April 11, 2025, surrounded by her family at their farm.
Barb was born on November 19, 1948, in Hamilton, Ohio to Harold and Hattie Lakes. She grew up in Brookville, Indiana and attended Franklin County High School. She met the love of her life, John Engle while he was working at her dad’s filling station. Her dad introduced the two of them and the rest is history. They united in marriage on March 2, 1968. Together, they raised their three children on John’s family farm just outside of Sunman.
Barb was the definition of a magnificent housewife. She made everything from scratch and always had some kind of sweets for dessert. Everyone always raved about her cooking and baking, especially her pies. She worked hard in and outside of the house, from tending to the garden every summer, to canning her harvests, and freezing whatever she could. She always lent a helping hand on the farm with the cows and made sure everyone stayed hydrated and fed while bailing hay on the hottest days in the summer. She found enjoyment in finding bargains, clipping coupons each week from the Sunday paper, and finding things for the grandkids at yard sales, whether it was clothes or toys for her house or theirs. She always made sure everyone had what they needed and put everyone else’s needs above her own.
Some of the grandkids and great-grandkids favorite memories of her include helping her in the garden, picking blackberries, breaking beans, putting up freezer corn, and making the best pumpkin pie. She always had gum or mints in her purse to give them at church, she made sure to have her freezer stocked with Popsicles in the summer to cool them off after playing outside. They all enjoyed making cookies with her at Christmas time, they also loved it when she made fried taters in her cast iron skillet, they enjoyed eating Cow Tales with her, and when she made them their favorite meal when they came to visit her. She taught the girls how to sew, and they always enjoyed hanging clothes on the clothesline with her in the summer. She also had been known to fix things the grandkids “might” have broken a time or to, so they didn’t get in trouble. One of her great-grand daughters even shared a birthday with her, making them “birthday buddies.” Above all and most importantly, she loved her family fiercely and was always there for everyone when they needed her.
Those surviving that will cherish her memories most are her three children, Greg (Jennifer) Engle, Tina (Jim) Wells, Susan Caudill (Gerald Martin), nine grandchildren Megan (Jake) Rogers, Brittany Anderson (Luke Thomas), David Anderson, Alyssia (Jon) Phillips, Scott Engle, Skylar (Tony) McElfresh, Johnathan Caudill, Austin Caudill, and Carson Caudill, four great-grandchildren Hailey Rogers, Aubree Rogers, Coby Rogers, Jessilyn Phillips and two more great-grandchildren on the way, one sister Marcia (Earl) Fischer, one brother Gary (Mindy) Lakes, two sisters-in-law Carolyn Lakes, Dee Lakes, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is proceeded in death by her husband of over 53 years John Engle, parents Harold and Hattie Lakes, and three brothers David, Joe, and Bill Lakes.
Private services will be held for the family with burial in Evangelical Union Cemetery. Memorial donations in honor of Barb can be sent to Margaret Mary Hospice at 321 Mitchell Ave., Batesville IN 47006 or online at mmhealth.org/health-foundation/donate and choose Hospice for the Designated Fund. Donations can also be given to St. John Lutheran Church-Hubbell’s Corner by mailing to 12534 N. Dearborn Rd., Sunman IN 47041. To sign the online guestbook or to leave a personal memory please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home, Sunman is honored to care for the family of Barb Engle.