Roland Otto Engelhardt

Roland Otto Engelhardt, 54, of Junction City, passed away peacefully Sept. 21, 2016. Roland was born in Nurnburg, Germany, the son of Georg Reinhold Gunter Engelhardt and Gisela Elli Taubert Engelhardt. He attended school in Nurnberg and was trained as an electrician. He worked as an electrician for 13 years.

He met SFC Delores Vollenweider, who was on active duty in the U.S. Army stationed in Nurnberg, in the summer of 1990. They were married Feb. 28, 1992 by the German government, and the Catholic Church on Feb. 29, 1992. He lovingly welcomed her daughter, Miranda, as his family.

Roland and Delores moved to the United States in the summer of 1993, where Delores was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas. They later bought a home in Junction City, and he began working at Footlocker in Junction City. He later worked as a maintenance person for Essex Wiring Company until they closed. He then completed his training and earned his AAA Computer rating for repairs. Roland worked for a time at Sykes Company's call center at Manhattan, repairing computers.

For past 15 years, Roland worked as a PLC mechanic for Frito-Lay in Topeka, running the computer system for the entire plant. He also did computer repairs as a personal business for family and friends. He maintained all the appliances in his home, and rarely bought extended warranties for maintenance. His home showcased his multi-talented abilities for carpentry and anything electrical.

Roland never met a stranger and leaves behind a host of friends.
Survivors include: his wife, Delores Vollenweider of Junction City; 2 daughters, Sgt. Miranda Wright and and her husband SSG John Wright, Junction City, and Yvonne Chaney and her husband Petty Officer 3rd Class, Jacob Chaney, Jacksonville, Florida; 2 sons, Simon and Asa Engelhardt, of the home; 3 grandchildren, Aurora Wright, Eva and Marshall Chaney; a brother, Ollie vonde Weide of Nurnberg, Germany; and several Aunts, Uncles, and cousins in Germany. Roland was preceded in death by his parents, and a step-father, all in Germany.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M., Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 at St. Xavier Catholic Church, with Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt presiding. Cremation will follow the Mass, and Inurnment will be at a later date at the St. Mary's Cemetery, Oconto, Nebraska. The family will greet friends 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 at Penwell-Gabel Junction City Chapel, 203 N. Washington, Junction City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to The United Way, or St. Xavier School.