Longtime Erskine professor Hans Engler dies at 84

Dr. Hans Gerhard Engler, Professor Emeritus of Bible as well as Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages at Erskine College, died Friday at the age of 84.

A native of Pottsdam, Germany, he was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received both a master’s degree in music and a Ph.D. in linguistics. He also earned a Th.D. degree in Old Testament at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia.

He first came to Erskine to teach at the seminary in 1961 and later taught Bible, German, Greek, Hebrew and Old Testament at the college. He was most recently an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Modern Languages, where he taught German.

A member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Association of Teachers of German, he was named an honorary member of the Erskine College Alumni Association in 2010.

He served the Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as a deacon, elder, Sunday school teacher, and choir member. He also served for many years as director and accompanist for the youth choir and pianist for Sunday evening services.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Ilse Friedrich Engler; a son, Friedrich Engler; a daughter, Cornelia Engler Debuchy; a sister, Christel Engler; and a granddaughter, Lola Debuchy.

Funeral services will be Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at 3:21 p.m. in the Due West ARP Church with the Rev. Calvin Draffin and Dr. Randall T. Ruble officiating. Current elders will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Erskine College, P.O. Box 608, Due West, SC 29639; Erskine Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 608, Due West, SC 29639; or Due West ARP Church, P.O. Box 397, Due West, SC 29639.

A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.