Alpha Evans

ALPHA EVANS

Strawberry Point

Funeral services for Alpha M. Evans, who died at the age of 96 on Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at the church to which she belonged for almost 70 years: Emanuel Lutheran, 305 Elkader St., Strawberry Point.

Respects may be paid to the family at the church after the service or during the visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at the Leonard-Muller Funeral Home, 628 Commercial St., Strawberry Point. For further information, call (563) 927-3112.

In addition to her husband "Bob," owner of Evans Hardware until his death in 1967, Alpha was preceded in death by her parents and her four siblings.

She is survived by her children, Barbara Evans, Patricia Svendsen and Robert S. (Nancy) Evans II; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; eight nieces and nephews; her sister-in-law, Patricia Simmons; and by many caring friends and appreciative former students.

From 1936 until her marriage in 1943, Alpha taught and coached at Ringsted, Gilmore City and Council Bluffs. From the fall of 1962 when she returned to the classroom in Strawberry Point, until her retirement 27 years later, she primarily taught junior high language arts in the Starmont Community School District. In 1989, Drake University's Graduate School of Education named her "Write Teacher of the Year."

From 1972 through 1983, Alpha also served on University of Northern Iowa and ISEA task forces charged with evaluating then improving the curricula for teacher preparation and certification in the state of Iowa. In 1977, she received her Master of Arts in Education from UNI.

An active member of the PEO Sisterhood, Fortnightly Club and the Order of the Eastern Star, as well as a Mother Advisor to the Order of Rainbow for Girls, Alpha was also one of the original members of Strawberry Point's Tree Board. And she loved her church. In addition to serving on its council and various other committees, she sang in its choir and taught Sunday school.

Last but not least, Alpha was a mother who was determined to give her children the advantages she had not had when growing up. For this as well as for the values, the love of learning and the independent spirit she instilled in them, they are grateful.

Condolences and contributions to the Alpha Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund should be sent to her children in care of Patricia Svendsen, 629 Gotzian St., St. Paul, MN 55106.