Rochelle Marie Engle, 60, of rural Columbia City, died peacefully at 2:48 a.m. Saturday, October 30, 2021, at her home after a long battle with cancer.

Born April 11, 1961, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she was a daughter of James and Joan (Bazilwich) Eggebeen. Growing up in the Grand Rapids area, she graduated from East Kentwood High School in 1979. She continued her education at Ivy Tech.

On October 20, 1995, she married Mark R. Engle. They made their first home in Laud, moving to Smith Twp., Whitley County, in 2004.

A medical claims specialist, she worked for Lincoln Life, Fort Wayne, from 1989 to 1993, then she moved to Employee Plans. In 1995, she became the benefits Administrator for Key Benefits, Fort Wayne. During her tenure, she spearheaded the successful work-from-home model now used by many in the insurance industry.

Fond of horses, she and her husband raised and showed champion painted horses.  In 1994 and 1995, their horses won Reserve Champion at the Painted Horse World Show. She assisted her husband with his farrier and horse dentistry business.

Enjoying the outdoors, she and her husband took daily walks near their country home, always in the company of their highly trained German shepherd service dog Brix. At home, her small dog Max was her constant companion. In her younger years, summers afternoons were often spent at one of the area lakes enjoying boating or jet skis.

A loving and caring mother and grandmother, she was also faithful to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She belonged to the Victory Christian Fellowship Church of North Manchester, the 4H Horse and Pony Club for ten years, and served as a horse judge for ten years.

Surviving is her beloved husband of 26 years, Mark; children, Sunshine (Chad) Eckert of Columbia City, Charity Cherneski, and Shandy Cheneski, both of Fort Wayne; grandchildren, Gabby Fry, Isaiah Small, Sarah Cherneski, and Dawson Eckert; her father, James (Eva) Eggebeen of Mesa, AZ; her mother, Joan Oosterhius of Grand Rapids, MI and a half-sister Tanya Oosterhius of Grand Rapids, MI.

The funeral service is 3 p.m. Thursday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is at the Blue River Cemetery. Visitation is from noon until the service Thursday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials are the Warehouse, Columbia City, or the Victory Christian Fellowship Church, North Manchester.