Elvere Evans

MADISON - Elvere (El) Evans, age 98, died on April 23, 2015 at home, surrounded by her family in Madison, WI. El was born on November 16, 1916 to Clara & Albert Gruenstern in Marion, WI. She graduated from Marion High School and from Oshkosh Teachers' College, now U.W. Oshkosh. After several years of teaching and at the start of World War II, she married William D. Evans (her husband for over 50 years).

Following the war, she and Bill lived in Champaign, IL, Chicago, IL, London, England and then settled in Madison. They also enjoyed the winters they spent in Lakeland, Florida. The past eight years she had been a resident of Oakwood Village West.

El was active in the community giving her time as a volunteer for several organizations. As a member of Midvale Lutheran Church for over 50 years, she joined in helping with Sunday School and Altar Guild. She also enjoyed her bridge clubs and valued the friendships of special neighbors and friends. El's greatest passion in life was her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who always put her family first.

El was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother Gerald Gruenstern, twin sisters Myra Brown and Miriam Hawkinson, sister-in-law Mary Gruenstern and brother in laws Alan Brown and Gerald Hawkinson. She is survived by three children: twin daughters Carol (Tom) Shepard of Madison, WI and Ft. Myers, FL, Cathie Evans of Madison, WI, and a son Bill (Debbie Gardner) Evans of Littleton, CO; four granddaughters: Anne (Randall) Cresswell of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Kate Hayden of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Kelly (Corey) Bisson of New Durham, New Hampshire and Christie (Eric) Utoft of Deep Haven, Minnesota, and two grandsons; Andy Evans of Denver, CO, and Kyle Evans of Ft. Collins, CO; four great grandsons Gavin and Ethan Cresswell, Thomas Utoft and Parker Bisson, and one sister in-law, Marge (Ralph) Lambrecht, Lake Bluff, IL and nieces and nephews.

The family's respect and gratitude to the following people cannot be adequately expressed. We will be forever grateful to her primary physician Dr. Robert Olson, her personal care providers, Joan, Juliana, Maureen and Cathy, and her Agrace Hospice team of Kate, Christina and Kirsten.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held at Oakwood's Resurrection Chapel on Saturday May 23 at 12:00 noon. Friends and relatives may greet the family preceding the memorial service starting at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Agrace HospiceCare, the Oakwood Foundation, the Salvation Army or a charity of your choice. Please share your memories at www.CressFuneralService.com
Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434