Evan J. Lewis

FUNERAL SERVICES : 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN with Reverend Scott Warne officiating.VISITATION : One hour prior to the services on Saturday.INTERMENT : Lake Emma Cemetery, Park Rapids, MNSURVIVORS : His wife, Delores of Nevis; his daughter, Rita Rena (Phillip) Larsen, Jr. of Park Rapids; his three sons: Ronald David (Cecile) Lewis of Nevis, Evan Allen Lewis of Nevis and Keith Louis (Monica) Lewis of Kasson, MN.; his daughter-in-law, Denise Marie Lewis of Zimmerman, MN; Two brothers: Ronald G. (Mary) Lewis of Schereville, Indiana and Robert D. (Mildred) Lewis of Naylor, MO; eight precious grandchildren: David (Nancy) Lewis, Cheryl (Brian) Thompson, Jillian (Jason) Murphy, Dawn (Robert) Rowe, Melissa (Parker) Torkelson, Isaiah Lewis, Justin Lewis and Adam Lewis; 7 great grandchildren: Ethan, Eli, Halley, Ashley, Autumn, Joshua and Rhiley. EVAN JOHN LEWISAugust 15, 1931 "September 13, 2011 Evan John Lewis, age 80 of Nevis, MN peacefully passed into eternity on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at his home surrounded by his loved ones. Evan was born on August 15, 1931 in Hammond, Indiana to John and Fern (Westcott) Lewis. It was in this same area that he attended grade school and grew through his early boyhood years. At age 13, his family moved to Naylor, Missouri where he attended high school. On August 20, 1950, Evan married the prettiest gal in Naylor, Delores Lenora Crook. They were blessed with a daughter, Rita Rena and four sons: Daniel, Ronald, Evan and Keith. Shortly after his marriage, Evan returned to Hammond with his bride, where he gained employment with the Inland Steel Co. of East Chicago, Indiana where he worked as a refractory mason bricklayer in a career that spanned over 31 years. Evan"s life was deeply saddened by the death of his son, Daniel Raymond in 1953. After a temporary retirement in 1983, Evan worked for the Bricklayers and Allied Craft workers Local Union #1 of Minnesota, traveling throughout the region on different large construction projects for an additional ten years before he truly retired. During the summers when his family was younger, Evan and Delores enjoyed spending time in the lake country of Northern MN. At retirement they moved to a country home south of Nevis, MN amid a Norway Pine plantation. Evan enjoyed watching good Westerns, a John Wayne movie was always a good movie to Evan. He enjoyed the peaceful solitude of his beautiful Norway Pine Forest on his land. Recently, Delores had purchased Evan a golf cart, which he called his "goof cart" which allowed him to travel throughout his property on a daily basis which seemed to nourish his soul even in his failing health. Above all, Evan devoted his entire life to his precious wife, Delores; his children; grandchildren and great grandchildren who he loved with all his heart. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Delores of Nevis; his daughter, Rita Rena (Phillip) Larsen, Jr. of Park Rapids; his three sons: Ronald David (Cecile) Lewis of Nevis, Evan Allen Lewis of Nevis and Keith Louis (Monica) Lewis of Kasson, MN.; his daughter-in-law, Denise Marie Lewis of Zimmerman, MN; Two brothers: Ronald G. (Mary) Lewis of Schereville, Indiana and Robert D. (Mildred) Lewis of Naylor, MO; eight precious grandchildren: David (Nancy) Lewis, Cheryl (Brian) Thompson, Jillian (Jason) Murphy, Dawn (Robert) Rowe, Melissa (Parker) Torkelson, Isaiah Lewis, Justin Lewis and Adam Lewis; 7 great grandchildren: Ethan, Eli, Halley, Ashley, Autumn, Joshua and Rhiley. Evan was preceded in death by his son Daniel Raymond and his parents. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN with Pastor Scott Warne officiating. Casketbearers will be Ronald David Lewis, Evan Allen Lewis, Rita Rena Larsen, Keith Louis Lewis, David Michael Lewis, and Phillip Arnold Larsen, Jr.