Joseph Evans

Joseph R. Evans, age 87, of Savanna, Illinois passed away Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the University of Iowa Hospitals with family by his side. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 11, 2017 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Savanna, with Full Military Rites given by the Savanna VFW. Visitation will be held 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 10, 2017 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna, with a Rosary Service held at 7:00 p.m.. Memorials may be given in Joe’s memory for the Pregnancy Crisis Center, Clinton, or the Great River Outreach, Savanna.
Joseph was born March 4, 1929 in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Lloyd and Isabelle (Finley) Evans. In Mason City, he attended Holy Family Catholic School and then graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School with the Class of 1948. Joe served in the US Army, attended St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, then returned to serve in the Army during the Korean Conflict. On April 12, 1958, Joseph married Irene Catherine Whittle at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elkader, Iowa. They celebrated fifty-eight years of marriage.
Joe had worked in sales for Westinghouse of Waterloo, Iowa, he then began his thirty-five year career with Interstate Power in West Union, Iowa, Elkader, Iowa, and in 1970 they moved to Savanna. At Interstate Power, Joe worked in Sales and later was an Easement Agent working out of the Dubuque office.
Joe was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Savanna, where he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was instrumental in raising funds to build the new Antl Hall at the Church. He was proud of his service to both the Elkader and Savanna communities. In Elkader he was president and a founding member of the Four Oaks Golf Course and member of the Jaycees. Elkader Chamber of Commerce named Joe Elkader’s “Man of the Year” in 1966. In Savanna he was a Lions Club member and past President of the Chamber of Commerce. Joe mostly loved spending time with family, friends and neighbors. He was especially involved with the many activities of all his grandchildren. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, tending his fruit trees, watching birds, playing Euchre, golfing, discussing history and politics, and mostly, Irene’s cooking.
Joe will be dearly missed by his wife, Irene of Savanna; six children, Mary (Steve) Haas of Savanna, Paul (Paula) Evans of Algonquin, IL, Tom (Nan) Evans of Seoul, South Korea, Pete (Lisa) Evans of Jerseyville, Illinois, Pat (Jenny) Evans of Marietta, Georgia, Helen (Jim) Kovacs of Troutman, NC; twelve grandchildren, Margaret and Anna Haas, Katie and Nathan Evans, Sarah (Andrew) Lohse, Megan, Rachel and Shannon Evans, Emily (Taryn) Stark, Ali and Matt Evans, and George Evans; two great-grandchildren, Rory Stark and Vivien Lohse; and two sisters, Pat Diebold of Thousand Palms, CA and Jeannie Herring of Chicago, IL. Joe had numerous nieces and nephews that he dearly loved.
Joe is preceded in death by a daughter, Ann Margaret who passed February 4, 1964; a grandson, Daniel; a brother, William; and seven sisters, Sister Mary Susan Evans, Ruth Hofer Weise, Shirley Barr, Ann Parker, Grace Walrod, Bernadette “Bobby” Fitzsimmons and Helen Rae Evans.
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Memorials established in the name of Joseph R. Evans:
The Great River Outreach, Savanna, IL
The Great River Outreach embraces the Christ-centered mission to coordinate the most efficient access to clothing, food, shelter and other support for “those-in-need”, offering a hand-up in life.
926 Viaduct Rd
Savanna, IL 61074
(815) 273-0426

The Pregnancy Center, Clinton, IA
the center is a Christ-centered ministry whose goals are to preserve the life of the unborn child and offer direction to young women by providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support for women; by offering support and healing to victims of past abortions; by providing education to community on issues regarding the sanctity of human life.
240 N. Bluff Blvd #105,
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 242-6628