In Memory of Bret Engelkes

We praise God for the life of Bret! In many ways, he was a “founding father” of HOME and continued to be a faithful encourager + teacher to us. Most importantly, he was our dear friend.

Find a couple of his more recent teachings at HOME here and here.

His obituary is below…

Bret Allen Engelkes, a man who above all loved God and loved people, went to his eternal home on January 4, 2022, after battling a myriad of life-long health struggles. And though he is absent from us, we know he is present with the Lord.

We celebrate who Bret was. Bret Allen Engelkes was a man with an immense story, one that continues to reach beyond him, his family, or his history.

Few could match his love of life or talent to enjoy it to the fullest. He was born to tell stories—complete with funny voices—or win others over with his jokes and innocent pranks. However, he did not just win his friends over, he invested in them emotionally and spiritually. Whether for a day, a year, or a decade, if Bret knew you, then he loved you.

A natural musician as well, he could learn a song by ear and throw himself completely into performing it. In fact, he was talented at most things he put his hands toward, whether it be teaching, working around the house, or finding the best deals on almost anything.

Bret was a father who loved his children deeply, who prayed and strived to teach them not an empty religion, but a rich relationship with Christ. In fact, it’s that very passion and love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that makes Bret’s testimony expand beyond his life.

Much like the Apostle Paul, Bret could not help himself when it came to sharing the Gospel. It was his life goal to tell all he encountered about Jesus and His love for them. He never saw himself better or worse than all he met, but fully understood that we all desperately need Jesus Christ. And also like Paul, it would take multiple books to show all he did in his mission to know God and make Him known with full confidence of Christ’s coming return.

Bret is survived by his wife and children, his father and his partner Judy Fisher, siblings and spouses David and Rebekah Engelkes, Kelly and Vince Mancuso, and Lindsey and Doug Freese along with aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews who love him dearly.