Royce George Engel Jr. passed away on November 15th, 2023 surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 20th, 1930. His parents were Royce G. Engel, Sr. and Hazel Behnke Engel. He graduated from East Grand Rapids High School followed by a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University (formerly General Motors Institute) and was selected for Tau Beta Pi. In 1963, he earned a University of Michigan MBA with distinction majoring in quantitative industrial economics and finance.

From 1949 to 1959, he worked in the Diesel Equipment Division of General Motors, focused on the design, engineering, and development of diesel engine fuel injectors and hydraulic valve lifters. While at General Motors, he had a three-year stint as an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1956. He participated in engineering associated with construction and repair of various vessel types including a new class of ammunition ships. From 1959 to 1962, Royce worked for the Herman Miller Furniture Company in Zeeland Michigan as the Technical Center Director. He holds numerous patents including, as sole inventor, a fuel injection device assigned to General Motors and, as co-inventor, two highly successful furniture product innovation assigned to Herman Miller.

In 1963, Royce moved to St. Louis to work for McDonnell Douglas' Automation Division. Royce had many achievements at McDonnell Douglas; he led a department that developed innovative computer software products and services that included computer simulations, statistical analyses, and resource allocation models. In 1976, he left McDonnell Douglas to found Engel Systems Company, a consulting company focused on computer applications; a key milestone was a technology forecasting stock market trends and stock prices for a multi-million dollar private investor. He returned to McDonnell Douglas leading a team focused on developing long-term McDonnell Douglas strategic roadmaps. He retired from McDonnell Douglas on his 25th employment anniversary in 1988.

Post retirement, Royce's zest for citizen activism in local politics is well characterized by a 2015 Monarch Fire Protection District press release headline "A True Public Service Watchdog". In 2015, he was declared the Monarch's first Honorary Director for his decades of tireless service to Chesterfield. Officials, residents and friends attending the Fire Protection Board meetings to honor him as a true "Community Servant".

He was a staunch advocate for the citizens of Chesterfield to ensure local government accountability, transparency, and taxation fairness. He formed multiple "watchdog" committees and was frequently the spokesperson speaking at board meetings and hearings. Several committees include: Chesterfield Association for Informed Residents to ensure Chesterfield City Council compliance with sunshine laws, oppose unnecessary sales tax increases, oppose riverboat gambling in Chesterfield, and zoning in the Chesterfield Valley floodplain; Citizens Against Public Funding of Sports Stadiums to avoid taxpayer costs that would outweigh stadium economic opportunities; and, Chesterfield Citizens for Responsible Government that opposed Monarch Fire Department pension tax increases as well as various bond proposals and utilization of bond proceeds.

Royce's activism was frequently successful. He filed a lawsuit against the City of Chesterfield that resulted in a court ordered settlement to ensure the city obeyed Missouri open meeting laws. He supported the political campaigns of tens of candidates. Many candidates were elected multiple times, including Rick Gans as Monarch Fire District director and several Chesterfield City Council members and mayors.

In recent years, Royce became interested in his family genealogy including researching an ancestor that fought in the Revolutionary War, relatives of German and Scottish descent, and membership in the National Society Sons of the American Revolution.

He loved keeping abreast of national politics, including tracking presidential candidates by reading the St. Louis Post Dispatch every day, watching Fox News as well as CNN. He was always interested in a dialogue about politics and frequently asked people for their opinions on the "national political scene". He was leading an active life until the day he passed away.

Royce led a full life as a father, activist, inventor, and veteran. He is survived by his children, Marcia (Rhett) Alden, Amanda/Barbara (Robert Wagner) Engel, Matthew (Damita) Engel, grandchild Brianna Engel, sister Molly Ann Ball and family, and former wife, Carol B. Kenney.

Services: Please join in a celebration of Royce Engel's life. Visitation will be at Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home, 12444 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, Tues., November 28th from 2-6 p.m. and Service at the Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home, Wed., November 29th at 10 a.m. followed by a 11 a.m. burial at Jefferson Barracks with full military honors, then buffet lunch at Marcia and Rhett Alden's house in the City of St. Louis. Donations to American Diabetes Association preferred.