Sandy Engle

Bainbridge Township - Sandra Joann Drake Engle, 57, passed on Thursday, December 16, 2004, at the Hospice at Home, The Meadows, Buchanan.

A memorial service will be held 2-5 pm Tuesday, Dec. 21st at the Van Buren Country Intermediate School District's Tech Center, 250 South Street, Lawrence, MI 49064.

A graduate of Central Michigan University, Sandra earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Journalism and Library Science. She retired from the Dowagiac Union Schools were she taught for 28 years. Sandra served as K-6, K-4, 5-8 and 7-8 librarian. As library department chair for seven years, she either led, or co-chaired, the annual community book fair held at Southwestern Michigan College for many years. A Junior Great Books advisor at Central Junior High, she was also a mentor in the at-risk program. Upon retirement, Engle received recognition for being the president of the Dowagiac Education Association for 21 years and 28 years as an association leader in a variety of local, regional, state and national positions.

Engle was appointed to the Michigan Dept. of Education, Office of Professional Preparation and Certification Library Media Advisory Committee on Standards and Testing for 1997-1999. She also served on the school's district-wide professional development and school improvement committees and wrote publicity articles for the district for many years.

She was a member of the Michigan Association of Media in Education and the American Library Association. She also served on the Dowagiac United Way Board of Directors for two years and on the LINK Teen Crisis Intervention Center board in St. Joseph for a year. Engle is a past secretary of the Sister Lakes PTO and was active in the Sister Lakes Athletic Association.

Before beginning teaching, she was a staff writer for the Herald Palladium newspaper, wrote for the Southwest Michigan Tourist Council and was director of public relations for Bronte Champagne and Wine Company.

Survivors include her husband of 35 years, Bryce; two daughters - Tristan Engle-Maney (Michael) of Wilmington, DE, and Meghan Engle of San Francisco, CA; father Charles William Drake (Barb) of Greenville, OH; stepsisters Shannon Fleak of Delphos, OH and Denise Drake of Las Vegas, NV; and stepbrothers Charles Drake of Pique, OH and John David Drake of Cridesville, OH. Preceding her death was her mother, Eleanor.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the University of Chicago in care of Dr. James Mastrianni, CJD Research Project, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637, the Hospice at Home, Inc., 4017 Chamberlain, Buchanan, MI 49107, or the Dowagiac Education Association Scholarship Fund, in care of Patricia Nawrocki, 575 Invicta Drive, Niles, MI 49120.