Obituary of Jack R. Engdahl

Jack R. Engdahl, 80, of Ashmar Lane, Jamestown, NY, passed away at 4:11 am Thursday, April 22, 2021, in the Heritage Green Rehab and Skilled Nursing Facility. A lifelong area resident, he was born May 30, 1940 in Jamestown, NY, a son of the late Robert O. and Genevieve Parker Engdahl. Jack was a 1958 graduate of Mayville Central School. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Brockport State University in 1962 and his Master of Science in Education from Fredonia State in 1968. He furthered his education by receiving his School Administrator and Supervisor certificate in 1979 and his School District Administrator certification in 1980 from Fredonia State University. Jack began his career in education working for the Jamestown Public School System as a teacher at Jefferson Jr. High School. In 1964, he started teaching at Mayville Central School, in the areas of Social Studies and English and was named Secondary Principal serving in that role until 1983. While at Mayville, he served as acting Superintendent in the summer of 1982 and was the attendance officer from 1975-1977. Jack was also the boys' JV and Varsity basketball coach and boys' golf coach. In 1968, he coached the varsity basketball team to the sectional finals in Buffalo, NY. In April of 1983, Jack was appointed Principal at Panama Central School where he served many roles until his retirement in 1995. He was the coach of the Panama Girls basketball team from 1989 to 1995, advisor of the Pep Club, and served as a member and chairman of many committees during his tenure at Panama. Following his retirement, he served as interim Principal at Clymer Central School in 1996 and Southwestern Central School in 1999. Over the years, Jack was active in many professional and civic organizations as a member of the Zion Covenant Church, Jamestown Zoning Board of Appeals, Ingjald Lodge 165, Independent Order of the Vikings, Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, Lakewood-Celoron Moose Lodge 2587, Samuel Derby Post 556, American Legion, Frewsburg, Chautauqua County Elementary Principals' Association, Chautauqua County Secondary Principals' Association, Chautauqua County Athletic Association Executive Committee, and the Western New York Academic Management Committee . An avid sportsman, Jack was a member of the Chautauqua County Softball and Baseball Umpires Association, having umpired softball for 35 years and was a past member of the IAABO Board 39, basketball officials. For many years he served as a Little League Baseball coach and manager, high school basketball, softball and golf coach and in later years a golf ranger and starter at the Chautauqua Golf Club. He will also be remembered as a loyal fan of the Buffalo Bills and the New York Yankees. Surviving is his wife of 56 years, Laura A. (Krause) Engdahl, whom he married June 27, 1964, a son, Michael B. (Lisa) Engdahl of Lakewood, NY, a daughter, Melinda S. (David) Phelps of Marietta, GA, four grandchildren, Jackson R. Engdahl, Mia M. Engdahl, Brayden N. Phelps, Nolan D. Phelps, a brother, James Engdahl of Mayville, NY and a sister, Cynthia K. (Richard) Hammond of FL. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas L. Engdahl who died March 9, 2018. A private service will be held in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Rick Miller, pastor of Zion Covenant Church will officiate. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received on a walkthrough basis from 4-7 pm Tuesday in the funeral home where social distancing will be observed and masks must be worn whole inside the funeral home. The service will be livestreamed on Wednesday at 11:00 am at www.facebook.com/lindfuneralhomeinc/ In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Zion Covenant Church, 520 Fairmount Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701.