Philippians 3:20-21
"But our citizenship is in heaven. and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
Thomas Marionneaux Engels, Sr. was born on June 24, 1929 in Baker, La. and he peacefully passed away October 8, 2016. Marionneaux was survived by his wife of 681/2 years, Shirley McClure Engels, and their 4 children: Paula Engels Croft of Walker, Tommy and Consuelo Engels of Brookhaven, Rhonda and Frank Landry III of Zachary, Randy and Sherri Engels of Brookhaven.
​Visitation will be on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at Charlet Funeral Home, Inc., Zachary from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm and on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Zachary from 9:00 am until mass at 10:00 am. Burial will follow in Plains Presbyterian Memorial Gardens.​
Marionneaux is survived by his sister, Jean May Hall of Galveston, Texas, who is the last sibling of the eleven children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph A. Engels, Sr. and Myrtis Marionneaux Engels; brothers: Arthur, Bert, Henry, Ted, Fritz, and Father Eugene Ray Engels and sisters: Anna Babin, Sally Nijoka, and Jule Watts.
Marionneaux will be greatly missed by his 14 grandchildren: Charmaine Mullins, Chad Zerangue; Christian Croft Sumich, Tre Engels, Hugh Engels, Evan Engels, Carleigh Engels Brown, Caleb Engels, Colleen Engels, Frank Landry IV, Chase Landry, Hunter Landry, Casey Thompson, and Renn Engels. He also has 15 great grandchildren and 1 great, great granddaughter.
Marionneaux graduated from Baker High School in 1946, where he was a member of the band and enjoyed playing the saxophone, flute and piccolo. All the while, had his eye on a certain cheerleader, Shirley McClure! Marionneaux enlisted into the US Air Force immediately after high school and served for 4 years. After completing airplane engine mechanic school at Keesler Field Biloxi, Marionneaux specialized on the A-26 Attack Bomber. He completed training for airplane instrument specialist at Chanute Field, Illinois. He was assigned to the 308 fighter squadron, 31st fighter group at Turner Field, Albany Ga. He then attended airplane specialist school and worked on P-51 Mustang Fighters. During the Berlin blockade, he was stationed at Celle, Germany working on C-54 cargo planes. After the blockade was broken, he returned to his outfit at Turner Field, and attended school for training on P-84 Thunder Jet Fighters, and finished his enlistment working on these jets. While Sergeant Engels was in the service, the Air Corp separated from the Army becoming what's known today as the USAF.
After his discharge, Marionneaux returned home to work as a firefighter for the Baton Rouge Fire Dept. Then he began his career as a Turbine Engineer at Gulf States Utilities for 39 years. Upon retirement from Gulf States, he enjoyed traveling and made several trips to Branson, M​o​. While there, he befriended many of the entertainers, especially Charlie Pride and Tony Orlando, and then decided that assisting and hosting for them at their theaters, would be exciting and fun "play work" for he and our mom! After 4 years of this play work, he returned to Zachary to enjoy all of his children and grands.
Special thanks to Dr. Michael Castine and staff at the Baton Rouge General Bluebonnet for all your special love and care you gave our loved one. May God bless you all.

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