Robert Merle Evans, the son of Harry and Leila (Applegate) Evans, was born February 24, 1925 at home in rural Pottawattamie County. Bob died May 22, 2023 at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 98 years, 2 months and 28 days.
Bob was a farm boy his whole life. He attended school through the 8th grade in Lewis and then farmed full time with his dad. He met the love of his life, Doris Nolte, at the skating rink in Atlantic. He gave her his new gold watch that night because he knew that even if she gave it back, she would have to see him at least one more time. They were married May 23, 1947. Three children were born to this union: Kathy, Kenny and Julie. Bob and Doris lived on three rented farms before settling on their forever farm near Elliott in December 1954. Besides growing crops and raising livestock, Bob was a self-taught welder and mechanic. He could fix anything on the farm and welded broken equipment for friends and neighbors. To supplement his farm income, Bob did custom baling and also worked part time as a mechanic, a welder, and at the beef plant in Oakland. Bob and Doris remained active in farm life until well into their eighties and lived on the farm until September 2021 when Doris’s health failed and they moved to assisted living in Atlantic.
Bob was a member of the Griswold Central Church of Christ. He loved God, his family, farming and a good joke or funny story.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; his son, Kenny; his parents; his brother, Ellis; his sisters, Lucille, Lois, and Ruth and a special nephew, Ron Swope.
Bob is survived by his daughters Kathy Butler and husband Gail of Atlantic, IA and Julie Tjepkes and husband Curt of Grundy Center, IA; his daughter-in-law Charlotte Evans of Griswold, IA; his grandchildren Jeremy Butler and wife Billie, Jill Leonard and husband Doug, Leah Schmidt and husband Paul, Ryan Evans and wife Jessie, Katie Kelly and husband Doug, Trent Burg and wife Pilar, Thad Burg, and Adam Burg and wife April; seventeen great grandchildren; his special niece Madeline Roberts; and many other relatives and friends. On his last good day he learned that his first great, great grandchild, Baby Hagedorn, is expected in November.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 26, 2023, at 2:00 PM at the Griswold Central Church of Christ. Interment will be in the Flint Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be on Friday, at the Griswold Central Church of Christ, from 12:30 PM until the time of the service. Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family.
