Walter A. Engelhardt Obituary

Walter Armond Engelhardt, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully on May 30, 2025, at the age of 87, in his hometown of Bay City, Michigan. Born on April 23, 1938, to Martin and Alma (Rau) Engelhardt, Walter was a lifelong resident of Bay City. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Arlene Krantz.

Walt married the love of his life, Sandy Rankin, on September 12, 1959. During their 65 years of marriage, they enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling and most of all enjoying each other's company.

A proud patriarch, Walter is survived by his children: Laura Bowser, Susan (David) Szczypka, and Paul Engelhardt. He was a loving grandfather to Adam (Stacy) Bowser, Benjamin (Tiffany) Szczypka, Noah (Taylor) Szczypka, John Paul Szczypka, and Madeleine Campbell. His sister Esther Arnot, along with his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Greg (Jean) Rankin, also survive him, all of whom will miss him greatly.

Walt's tenured career was spent in the automotive industry as a machinist, although he was exceptionally skilled with anything related to fixing a vehicle. His pride of work was evident in every project he touched; whether grinding a crankshaft or working on a side job in his home garage, he treated every vehicle like it was his own.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Walter was a man of many interests, with a particular passion for fishing. His joy was spending time on the river with a fishing pole in his hand with a tight line, enjoying the peace of the river.

Walt's character and integrity were the cornerstones of his life. He approached every task with diligence and every relationship with honesty and respect. His enduring legacy is one of love, hard work, and the countless memories he created with those he held dear.

A private funeral service was held at Fremont Cemetery.