Obituary of Elinore Englebrecht

In Loving Memory of Elinore Englebrecht

Elinore Englebrecht, 98, passed away peacefully at home on May 15, 2023 with her husband and family surrounding her in love

Elinore, born September 24, 1924 was the youngest sibling of 4 sisters and two brothers born of her parents Mary Ellen and Ernest Clift, who came to the USA from England via the Great Lakes. She was born in No. Judson, IN, and moved to Walworth, WI where she grew up and went off to State Teacher’s College in Madison, WI.

Elinore joined the US Navy as a WAVE in 1944, and was stationed in Washington, DC. She was a typist of shipping orders for the fleets, typing reports for her commanding officers, as well as other top-secret duties. She stood at attention for Pres. Roosevelt’s funeral and marched in numerous parades.

After her service in the Navy, she returned to Walworth where she fell in love and married LeRoy Englebrecht, September 7, 1946. Together they raised 2 daughters and a son. They lived in Walworth where Jaci and Jeri were born, then moved to Simi Valley, CA where James was born. They lived in Ramona, CA and retired in Gilbert, AZ.

Elinore was the “Betty Crocker” of baking and cooking, making the best cookies, pies and deserts of anyone! She was affectionally known as Grammie and it was said many times, “Grammie makes the best cookies” She stayed home to raise her kids and as they grew older, she was involved with reading programs in the school, teaching and helping in church activities. She was the church treasurer in the Simi Valley United Methodist Church and the Ramona United Methodist Church for many years, prior to the age of computers and emails, when all the counting of funds and record keeping was manual! She loved her gardens and flowers and you could always find flowers from the yard on her tables

Elinore leaves behind her beloved husband LeRoy, daughters Jacqlin (Dan) Schroff, Jeri Lyn (Neil) Horowitz, and son, James (Kathryn) Englebrecht, as well as 5 grandchildren, 3 step-grands and 8 great grands, 3 step-great grands, as well as numerous nieces, family members, church friends, neighbors and old friends she and LeRoy have maintained contact with for many, many years.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 10:30 am at the First United Methodist Church of Gilbert, 331 S. Cooper, Gilbert.

A private family urn interment will be on Tuesday at the Arizona VA Cemetery in Cave Creek.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Elinore’s name at the 1st United Methodist Church of Gilbert or St. Judes Children’s Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929