Gerald (Jerry) Herbrand Engen, 85 of Silverdale, Washington passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2026. He was born on December 19, 1940 in Hawley, Minnesota to Herbrand (Bob) and Gilma (Heier) Engen. When Gerald started school, he spoke only Norwegian because of his family’s Norwegian heritage. He learned to speak English while attending school. He spent many years working as a potato farm laborer for local farms and worked in a Coca Cola plant before beginning a new chapter in his life. In 1957 he met Gloria Jean Sorby of Moorhead, Minnesota while roller skating. In 1959, Gerald and Gloria married at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. In the fall of 1966, they moved to Washington State and made their first home in Silverdale, where they built a life together. Gerald worked as an auto detailer at Kluge Chevrolet in Bremerton for 20 years. He later fulfilled his dream of owning his own business, Jerry’s Auto Detail in Bremerton, which he operated for 15 years. His final job was with Port Orchard Sand and Gravel, a place where he truly loved working as a loader operator and enjoyed the people he worked alongside. He was there for 26 years before retiring in 2013.

Gerald enjoyed being a part of a Labrador Retriever Club where he trained dogs to duck hunt. He also was an active member of the Kitsap Destruction Derby Association (KDDA), where he proudly raced car number 44. He was named “The Wildman Jerry Engen” by a past announcer and the nickname stuck. He had a great time competing and made many lasting memories. After retiring from racing, he continued his involvement with the association by serving as a judge for several years. In his spare time, he enjoyed restoring old Farmall Tractors and participating in tractor pulls with the Olympic Peninsula Antique Tractor and Engine Association (OPATEA). He also was a big NASCAR fan, watching the races every Sunday. He also enjoyed Seahawk football games, Barrett-Jackson car auctions, old country music shows, and talking about old cars and tractors. He enjoyed watching America’s Funniest Home Videos, Deadliest Catch, Dateline, 20/20, Storage Wars, Forensic Files and Counting Cars. He also loved finding out where people were from and spending time with family. He is survived by his daughter Debby (Dan) Bridges of Gig Harbor, Washington, his only grandchild Gunnar Bridges, close family tie Charlene Holly and family of Vine Grove, Kentucky, sister Arlene Hedlund of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, sisters in law Celia Anderson of Fargo, North Dakota and Virginia Anderson of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and numerous cousins, nieces, great nieces, nephews, and great nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years Gloria, his parents, brothers Glenn (Linda) Engen, Larry (Ruth) Engen, Merlin Engen, and nephew Jeffrey Engen.