WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Margaret Patricia Evans, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital.
She was born Jan. 15, 1927 at St. Francis Hospital in Freeport, Ill., a daughter of the late Lalon F. and Sybil A. (Harnish) Straub.
Mrs. Evans resided in Sturgis since 1954, coming from Ann Arbor.
She had also lived in Detroit, Cincinnati, Chicago, Freeport and Saginaw, and was a 1944 graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Saginaw, where she was a cheerleader and a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. She continued her education at St. Joseph School of Nursing in Ann Arbor, where she received her diploma and became a registered nurse.
On June 18, 1949 she married Dr. Robert H. Evans, M.D., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ann Arbor.
Mrs. Evans was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in White Pigeon and the Holy Angels altar society. She also was a member of the Klinger Lake Country Club and served as a member of several Sturgis Hospital guilds. For many years, she was a volunteer with the American Red Cross blood drives.
She had a love for all animals, especially dolphins, and enjoyed playing Bridge and golf and watching and feeding birds.
She is survived by her loving and dedicated husband of 62 years, Robert; a daughter, Karen (Mike) Stone of Bend, Ore.; three sons, Michael (Trudy) Evans of Grand Rapids, Mark (Joy) Evans of Gobles and James Evans of Dolores, Colo.; eight grandchildren, Ashley Stone, Michelle Stone, Hillary (James) Berg, Jessica (Matthew) VanHekken, Tory (Holly) Peterson, Patrick Evans, Steven (Luanna) Evans and Scott (Mary) Evans; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Michelle Evans; and a brother, Paul Straub.
In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Hackman Family Funeral Homes — Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Road, Sturgis.
A memorial funeral Mass celebrating the life of Margaret Patricia Evans will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 702 Chicago Road, White Pigeon. The Rev. Father German Perez-Diaz will officiate. Private burial of ashes will take place at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Evans’ memory consider Wild Dolphin Foundation, 87-1286 Farrington Highway, Waianae, HI 96792; Elkhart-South Bend Audubon Society, c/o Marge Riemenschneider, 20451 Brick Road, South Bend, IN 46637; or the Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 96280, Washington, D.C. 20077-7491.
