Couple has served 50 years for love of Roselle
Ask Al and Marge Engel of Roselle why they've spent more than half a century volunteering for their community, and Al, 84, tells a joke that makes his 83-year-old bride giggle.
“We take a cue from John F. Kennedy and think: Ask not what your village can do for you, but what you can do for your village. That's a good one, isn't it?” says Al.
Marge was born in Roselle; Al came along from Schaumburg a few years later. The couple attended grade school together and fell in love at a young age.
“I told my mom in seventh grade that I was going to marry him, and she laughed,” said Marge. “But I never changed my mind.”
The couple also fell in love with their community, and have been working to improve the quality of life in Roselle for decades. The Engels became charter members of the Roselle Historical Foundation and are still involved with the organization.
Al was also a founding commissioner on the Roselle Park District, while Marge served on Roselle's planning and zoning commission, as well as the board for the Roselle Public Library.
She said losing her eyesight to macular degeneration has “been a big blow” since she loves reading, but the condition hasn't stopped her service work.
Marge has also served on the board and as a mentor for AIMS, or Adults Involved in Mentoring Students. The programs runs at more than a dozen local schools such as Lake Park High School.
“They are well-known and well-loved,” said their friend and colleague, Kay Cahill. “They love Roselle and know everything there is to know about the village.”
The couple also remain active members of Trinity Lutheran Church, where they attend Bible classes and where Al sings in the choir.
Al has also served as a Little League Baseball coach, while Marge formerly served as a Girl Scout leader.
Ken Black, who runs AIMS and has known the couple for 45 years, said their efforts convey their love for their hometown.
“They have always tried to participate in activities that strengthen the image of Roselle as a great place to live,” said Black.
Today, the couple loves to travel, and Branson, Mo., is one of their favorite destinations. The Engels agree they will likely never tire of serving Roselle, but Al said he worries their travels throw things off balance.
“We've slowed down a bit because of our travel, and sometimes I'm embarrassed that I haven't been to as many events at the historical foundations as I should be,” he said.
But perhaps their children might pick up any slack. Marge said three of their four children live less than two miles away and share their parents' civic pride.
“I think they appreciate Roselle and what a good community it is,” said Marge. “We think we've passed our love of the community onto our children. That doesn't happen every day.”
About our series
In keeping with the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, we begin today a series of stories honoring the people we should be thankful for — the unheralded residents and volunteers who give their time, energy and talents to make the world a better place. During the next several days, we present stories we hope will inspire. They include an Aurora firefighter who soldiers on despite the loss of a leg; an 11-year-old from West Chicago who's helping raise funds for a children's clinic in Sudan; a woman in Wheaton who tutors poor people from 19 countries. We launch our series with this piece on a couple from Roselle who have been volunteering for their community for more than 50 years.