Rolland F. Evans
August 15, 1928 — January 26, 2007
Rolland F. Evans, 78, of Marion, was born on August 15, 1928, in Waukon, Iowa, the son Horace and Gladys Evans. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1946. He had lived and worked on their farm through high school. Then in 1946, the family moved to Anamosa where they purchased a hardware store. Rolland worked there for a number of years until 1950 when he joined the Army, serving until 1952.
On June 15, 1952, he married Joan Hotz at Olin, Iowa. One son, Jack, was born to this union. Rollie and Joan were later divorced. Soon after his marriage he formed his own plumbing business, Evans Plumbing and Heating. Family concerns precipitated a move to Cedar Rapids, when in 1964 he began working for Quaker Oats as a plumber and steamfitter. He worked there until 1992. He was very skilled at many things, and able to fix about anything, and so was a valued employee.
After retirement, Rollie traveled for a time, as long as he was able to drive safely. He liked to travel in the West, visiting ghost towns. Trips also were made to Utah where he enjoyed visiting his friends, Joe and Jacquie Gelo, the Bonneville Salt Flats, and the races there. There were trips to Memphis to visit an Army friend. He often visited relatives and sometimes traveled with his friend, Gary Potter, of Anamosa. One year, he and his son, Jack, took the train to San Francisco. The next year they made the trip to San Francisco by car, taking his nephew, Anthony Marulla, with them.
Rollie enjoyed motorcycles, having an Indian when he was younger, and later owning a Harley-Davidson. He made trips to both Texas and California on his HOG (Harley Owner?s Group).
He was never interested in farming, even though he grew up on a farm. He did, however, have a fascination for mechanical things and working with tools. One of his hobbies was fixing things that didn?t work; enjoying the challenges they presented. He loved to figure things out and to do what was necessary to make them work. He was very particular with any work which he undertook, feeling strongly that it ought to be done right. He was basically a shy person, feeling relaxed and comfortable only with those he knew well.
He struggled with illness (Parkinson?s disease and peripheral neuropathy) over the past few years. He entered Linn Manor Care Center in February 2003. Death came to him there on Friday, January 26, 2007.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 29, 2007, at Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Marion by Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer. American Legion Post #298 of Marion will provide military honors at the service. Graveside Committal Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday at Waukon Cemetery in Waukon, Iowa. The family will greet friends one hour prior to services on Monday at the funeral home.
Our love and prayers surround his family: his son, Jack Evans of Katonah, New York; his sister, Em Merulla (Mel Rhodes) of Cedar Rapids; three nephews, Anthony Merulla, Michael (Mary) Merulla, and Jim (Chris) Merulla; several grandnephews and nieces; and his former wife, Joan Ballas, of Winston Salem, North Carolina. Also surving are cousins, Jim Evans (and family) of Waukon, Ray (Lorraine) Mitchell and Gary (Janet) Mitchell, all of Rossville, Bob (Glenda) Brannon of Anamosa, Marge (Ernest) Dosedel of Apple Valley, Minnesota, and Jim Koontz of Great Falls, Montana. Among his special friends are Jim Schulz of Naperville, Illionis, Janet Schulz Hamous (Steve) of Wichita, Kansas, Gary Potter of Anamosa, and Joe and Jacquie Gelo of Sandy, Utah.
Appreciation is expressed to St. Luke?s Hospice and to those at Linn Manor who saw faithfully to his care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Linn Manor Care Center in Marion or to a charity of the donor?s choice, in Rollie?s memory.
On June 15, 1952, he married Joan Hotz at Olin, Iowa. One son, Jack, was born to this union. Rollie and Joan were later divorced. Soon after his marriage he formed his own plumbing business, Evans Plumbing and Heating. Family concerns precipitated a move to Cedar Rapids, when in 1964 he began working for Quaker Oats as a plumber and steamfitter. He worked there until 1992. He was very skilled at many things, and able to fix about anything, and so was a valued employee.
After retirement, Rollie traveled for a time, as long as he was able to drive safely. He liked to travel in the West, visiting ghost towns. Trips also were made to Utah where he enjoyed visiting his friends, Joe and Jacquie Gelo, the Bonneville Salt Flats, and the races there. There were trips to Memphis to visit an Army friend. He often visited relatives and sometimes traveled with his friend, Gary Potter, of Anamosa. One year, he and his son, Jack, took the train to San Francisco. The next year they made the trip to San Francisco by car, taking his nephew, Anthony Marulla, with them.
Rollie enjoyed motorcycles, having an Indian when he was younger, and later owning a Harley-Davidson. He made trips to both Texas and California on his HOG (Harley Owner?s Group).
He was never interested in farming, even though he grew up on a farm. He did, however, have a fascination for mechanical things and working with tools. One of his hobbies was fixing things that didn?t work; enjoying the challenges they presented. He loved to figure things out and to do what was necessary to make them work. He was very particular with any work which he undertook, feeling strongly that it ought to be done right. He was basically a shy person, feeling relaxed and comfortable only with those he knew well.
He struggled with illness (Parkinson?s disease and peripheral neuropathy) over the past few years. He entered Linn Manor Care Center in February 2003. Death came to him there on Friday, January 26, 2007.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 29, 2007, at Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Marion by Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer. American Legion Post #298 of Marion will provide military honors at the service. Graveside Committal Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday at Waukon Cemetery in Waukon, Iowa. The family will greet friends one hour prior to services on Monday at the funeral home.
Our love and prayers surround his family: his son, Jack Evans of Katonah, New York; his sister, Em Merulla (Mel Rhodes) of Cedar Rapids; three nephews, Anthony Merulla, Michael (Mary) Merulla, and Jim (Chris) Merulla; several grandnephews and nieces; and his former wife, Joan Ballas, of Winston Salem, North Carolina. Also surving are cousins, Jim Evans (and family) of Waukon, Ray (Lorraine) Mitchell and Gary (Janet) Mitchell, all of Rossville, Bob (Glenda) Brannon of Anamosa, Marge (Ernest) Dosedel of Apple Valley, Minnesota, and Jim Koontz of Great Falls, Montana. Among his special friends are Jim Schulz of Naperville, Illionis, Janet Schulz Hamous (Steve) of Wichita, Kansas, Gary Potter of Anamosa, and Joe and Jacquie Gelo of Sandy, Utah.
Appreciation is expressed to St. Luke?s Hospice and to those at Linn Manor who saw faithfully to his care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Linn Manor Care Center in Marion or to a charity of the donor?s choice, in Rollie?s memory.
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