Obituary of Earl Richard English

Earl Richard English was born in Northeast Minneapolis on December 28, 1947 to Leo and Violet English. He lived throughout the state of Minnesota before settling at the Ame 12th Street group home in Buffalo, Minnesota in 2010.

Due to being diagnosed in early childhood with a variety of disabilities, doctors anticipated Earl would have a short life expectancy. With each year that Earl lived and aged, he showed pure joy in being alive and spending time with family. This passion was evidenced across all areas of his life: his love for his local church, his huge heart, his love of live music, being active, and his late in life new found love of yoga and his favorite exercise bike.

Earl deeply loved his three housemates at Ame 12th Street and looked forward to fun together on field trips, weekends, and vacations. In addition to the brother-like bond Earl formed with his housemates, he had many close friends, his light always drawing others toward him. With a joke hidden in every sentence it was hard not to be endeared by Earl. Not to mention how he was always able to sweet talk his way into an extra treat or coffee and always was giving staff “the business”.

He had a blast singing karaoke at bars with Carol Hoffert, his house manager at Blaisdale, where their duet go-to song was “Can I Have this Dance” by Anne Murray. He continued with his love of karaoke every year at the local Buffalo talent show, often singing “Red Red Wine” and hosting sporadic karaoke parties at his house with his staff and roommates.

Earl and Katie, his Ame 12th Street house manager, shared a special bond over their love of dogs. Lucky, Earl’s poodle-bichon mix, was the absolute love of his life. Earl promised that when he arrived in Heaven he would throw the ball for Lucy, Katie’s dog who had recently passed. In return, Earl made Katie promise to throw the ball often for Lucky when she is at 12th Street.

Earl loved working for Functional Industry in Buffalo where he was an eager learner. After some adaptations, he was steadfast in his motivation to be efficient with his assembly and piece work. While his supervisors often suggested he might want to consider retirement, Earl couldn’t get enough of the work. He held out for as long as he could, working up until his leukemia diagnosis in the summer of 2021. At that point in time, Earl would often say “I guess I’m retired…I don’t know about this.”

With incentives received from his good work, Earl would spend the extra money playing pull tabs where he had surprisingly good luck, buying pop from the vending machine as a treat, dinner and concerts at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, and donating to a church fund or the Salvation Army. He loved to ring the bell for Red Kettle, braving the cold and ringing with a smile on his face and a good joke at the ready for hours at a time.

Both faith and family were significant to Earl. He was always positive and despite difficult circumstances, he held a strong faith in Jesus Christ. During the pandemic, Earl attended church in the church parking lot with his housemates and staff while the service played on the radio. Earl frequently talked about how he was looking forward to meeting Jesus so he could one day see again.

He enjoyed spending time with family at the cabin, on pontoon rides, and at pig roasts. He was always game to hit up local car shows with his cousin Butch and Gene—he so loved his Chevys. It was important to Earl that everyone have someone to love and take care of them. A classic gentleman and foodie, Earl would offer to pay for dinner using his checkbook and his signature stamp.

Earl will be remembered for giving great advice about life, his generosity, steadfast faith, and quickness to laugh.

Earl English passed away at the Buffalo Hospital Intensive Care Unit due to COVID Pneumonia on December 7, 2021, at the age of 73 years, 11 months. By his side were Katie, his house manager; Krista, house staff; Andrea, his guardian/cousin Earl (Butch) Husak Jr.’s daughter; and Lucky, his beloved dog.

In honor of Earl’s eagerness to celebrate his 74th birthday, a birthday funeral service will be held on December 28, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo. Internment will be at Fort Snelling at a later date. For more information, please contact Andrea Holker at (612) 245-6753.

Earl is survived by his cousin’s daughter and her family, Andrea (Brett) Holker, Anastasia Holker, and Reid Holker. He is preceded in death by his parents, Leo English, Violet Neumann English Burke; stepfather Leroy Burke; and brothers, Eldon English and Edward English.

Please join us for a visitation one hour before the funeral service and Earls Birthday Celebration luncheon immediately following the service @ Zion Lutheran Church 1200 CR-25 N Buffalo, MN 55313

In lieu of flowers, memorials for the care of Earls beloved companion, Lucky are prefered. AME 151 5th St NE Suite 104 Buffalo, MN 55313