In the final hours of his life, Bob Engle told his son how much he would have liked to get on a tractor one last time and take a ride around the field.

Engle never got that chance before he died on Oct. 31. His son, however, made sure that he’d get one more trip through the prairie and countryside where he’d spent his entire lifetime farming.

Engle was escorted to his burial site at Sunnyside Cemetery Saturday by a procession of tractors, trucks and other vehicles that got in line as a tribute to the fourth-generation Coupeville farmer.

It was the way that Engle wanted to go to his grave, his casket resting on a flatbead trailer, pulled by the first John Deere tractor he ever owned.

His son, also named Bob Engle, led the procession aboard the restored and freshly painted green tractor, fulfilling a wish his father had communicated years ago.

The elder Engle, who was 74, loved farming and was particularly fond of John Deere tractors.

“My dad told me years ago that was how he wanted to come up there,” said the younger Bob Engle. “That was truly an honor for me to do that. He also told me hours before he passed that all he wanted was to get on a tractor and go another round in the field. I kind of felt I was giving him that last ride.”

The younger Engle tried to stay composed as he shared the conversation he had with his dad in his final hours.

“He told me, ‘I guess I’m not going to make my goal. I just want to get back on the tractor and plow another round,’” Engle said. “He didn’t get to do that, but we did give him a tractor ride. I hope he’d be very proud of that.”

Engle’s casket was draped by an American flag, reflecting his patriotism and six years spent in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Tractors started arriving near the Prairie Center Red Apple Market shortly after noon as did a hearse from Wallin Funeral Home that was carrying Engle’s casket.

The casket was transferred to the trailer that was attached to Engle’s first John Deere tractor. Family and friends that included the younger Engle’s brother-in-law Rusty Bailey and Main Street Collision, had worked in the days leading up to the memorial service to restore the tractor, and it shined like new Saturday.

Tractors and trucks were invited to follow Engle across the countryside to the cemetery on the hill.

The younger Engle counted 17 tractors in all and four semi-trucks, although other rigs followed, including engines with Central Whidbey Fire & Rescue. In total, there were roughly 50 vehicles that joined in to pay tribute to a man from one of Whidbey Island’s early pioneer families.

One onlooker called it a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“Only in Coupeville,” said another.

At one point, Cook Road was covered from end to end in vehicles before tractors began climbing the cemetery’s hillside to meet a large gathering that waited near Engle’s final resting place.

“It was amazing,” said Rev. Dave Engle, who officiated his cousin’s service along with Rev. Jin Ming Ma from Coupeville United Methodist Church. “It was so touching. It was about community, family and love.

“People will not forget this one.”

Gary Wallin, funeral director and owner of Wallin Funeral Home, guessed there were close to 400 people in attendance.

Of the countless services he’s been a part of since he got into the business in 1962, Wallin said this one was unique on a number of accounts.

“This man was not a politician,” Wallin said. “He wasn’t a corporate president or anything like that. He was a farmer. We had probably close to 400 people there. That just says so much about his character. These people gave up their day to come up and honor him. That says so much about the character of the whole family and especially Bob. It was just an incredible showing of love and support.”

Retired farmer Al Sherman said he saw people from Skagit County and other places that he hadn’t seen in decades.

Sherman said he farmed in the same prairie with Engle his whole life. The two farming families merged in 1966 when Bob Engle married Cheryl Sherman, his wife of 49 1/2 years.

Al Sherman said the tractor procession and celebration of life that followed depicted Engle.

“He loved tractors,” Sherman said. “The whole memorial was about farming. That’s the way he was. It might have been a little showy for him. He wasn’t a guy who liked to get out in the public. He was always kind of quiet. He was a farmer.”

At the service, some were reminded of another unique farmer funeral procession that occurred at Sunnyside Cemetery nearly a half century ago.

On April 8, 1970, the casket of well-known rancher and farmer Knight Smith was transported by a wagon led by a team of horses from his nearby farm to the cemetery.

Members of the Island County Sheriff’s Posse, which Smith was a part of, escorted Smith to his burial site alongside two riderless horses.

Wallin also was on hand to see that.

“He was an original down there too,” Wallin said.

The tractors, however, were a first, Wallin said, calling the entire tribute “fascinating.”

“It was one of largest gatherings in years and years and years,” Dave Engle said. “It’s the largest service I remember for a farmer.”