Martin Engelbert, 60, Celina, TX
CELINA, TX – Martin Anthony Engelbert was born on May 4, 1961 in Beloit. He was the second of three sons born to Earl and Mary Frances Engelbert, followed by a little sister.
Growing up on a farm, Martin learned at an early age the meaning of an honest, hard day’s work. He was a natural with tools and machinery and could fix just about anything. By the time he was 14, Martin became a young member of the Beloit Volunteer Fire Department and served alongside his dad.
Martin graduated from St. John’s Catholic School in 1979, he went on to complete his education at North Central Kansas Technical College in P l u m b i n g / H V A C maintenance.
Martin worked hard for many years in HVAC and plumbing fields, including 9 years of large building maintenance at Alcatel Network Systems in Richardson, TX. Luckily, his future wife worked in one of those buildings.
Martin and Kelly married on January 13, 1996. She joined him at his home in Celina, Tx where they remained and raised their two beautiful children.
Martin decided to join the Celina Volunteer Fire Department in 1995 and it reignited his childhood passion of becoming real firefighter. He became Volunteer Chief in late 1995, finished the Fire Academy and EMT training by the end of 1999. Martin was a poineer in bringing the CFD from a volunteer department to a fully staffed, accredited department. Martin was hired on as Celina’s first paid firefighter/Fire Chief in 2001 and faithfully served the department in multiple positions until 2012.
Martin later served the City of Celina as the Facilities Supervisor from 2017 until his death.
Martin is preceded in death by his father Earl, his paternal and maternal grandparents. He is survived by his wife Kelly, daughter Emmy and son Thomas, mother Mary Frances, brothers Blaine and wife Annie, Leon and wife Terri, sister Leia and husband Jeff, his in-laws Charles and Lynda Abott. He is loved and will be missed by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Martin was the best husband, father, son, brother and loyal friend anyone can ask for. With his quiet strength, caring nature and bottomless heart, he touched the lives of everyone he encountered.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Celina.
Service and burial will be Saturday, November 27, 2021 1:00 p.m. at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Beloit.
In lieu of flowers, please consider gifting the Celina Fire Department. Celina Firefighter Fund, Independent Financial Bank, 290 S. Preston Rd., Celina, TX 75009.