Carol Jean (Bremer) Engerer

Carol Jean (Bremer) Engerer

Carol Jean Engerer of Mechanicsburg, PA died at the age of 94 on Saturday, June 26, 2021.  She was born October 15, 1926 in Ocheyedan, IA to Helen (Rahn) and Carl Bremer. She is preceded in death and no doubt welcomed home by her oldest son, Mark Engerer and her loving husband, Edwin Engerer. She is survived by her children Steven (Barbara) Engerer of Valparaiso, IN, and Jon (Julie) Engerer of St. Louis, MO, her daughter-in-law, Joyce Engerer of Mechanicsburg, PA; as well as eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Randall Bremer, Richard Bremer and Donna Limmer.

Carol received her BA at Valparaiso University in Music Education. She married her college sweetheart, Edwin Engerer, on June 26, 1948. She worked as a music instructor for grades K-12, and directed band and chorus for two years before she and Ed started their family. Together they raised three boys, through military service, living in Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, and Missouri, and eventually ending up in Harrisburg, PA. Through it all, volunteering was always something Carol felt was important. Among other things, she served as a volunteer at Dauphin Manor for 30 years (part of that time as a board member), she was a Charter Board Member for the Harrisburg Symphony Society and she was a member of the Valparaiso University Guild including two terms as president of the local chapter.

“There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is.” - William Shakespeare. Both faith and music were an integral and guiding part of Carol’s life from the beginning - often inseparable. Starting with her first solo in 6th grade, music was instrumental in her journey. She sang in her church choir as a youth, and played flute in the high school marching band.  At Valparaiso University she was a soloist in the Acapella Choir.  In St. Louis, she sang with the Lutheran Hour Choir and the Concordia Seminary Choir.

Carol was an active member of Zion and St. Paul Lutheran Churches in St. Louis and of Calvary and Messiah Lutheran Churches in Harrisburg. She directed Christmas pageants, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, directed choirs and hand bell choirs, and served as organist.

Later she and Ed chased music throughout Europe attending concerts in various cities. They went to the Opera in Milan and Vienna, saw string concerts in Paris and Salsburg, listened to choral works at the Notre Dame Cathedral, heard bagpipes in Edinburgh and even a Gregorian chant in Russia. It is fitting that she entered into eternal life while Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus was playing.

Carol loved her family.  When her children were small, vacations were to the Bremer family farm in Ocheyedan, IA or to Pittsburgh, PA to visit the Engerer grandparents. For many years in retirement, Carol and Ed spent the winter months on Hilton Head Island, SC. She played golf with her husband (and even won a tournament or two at the Country Club of Harrisburg), loved and supported music and the arts and made countless crafts with and for her grandchildren. Her family has fond memories of gathering together to sing Christmas carols while she played her baby grand piano. She enjoyed cooking, reading, playing bridge, and doing crossword puzzles. Her legacy of love will not be forgotten as she and Ed cared for each other for over seventy two years. Carol passed away on what would have been their 73rd Wedding Anniversary!

Burial in St. John’s Cemetery in Mechanicsburg will be private and at the convenience of the family.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Messiah Lutheran Church or Messiah Lutheran Church Food Pantry, 901 North Sixth Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102.

Carol’s family has entrusted her care to Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Carol’s full obituary, view her photograph, offer condolences and sympathy, share stories and memories, upload photographs and videos, light a candle and sign her official guest book by visiting Buhrig.com.