Obituary of John Winter Evans

John Winter Evans, age 82, formerly of Ashland, Wisconsin, passed away on Wednesday, May 15, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from Alzheimer’s disease. He was born on February 14, 1942, in Washburn, Wisconsin the son of John C. and Agnes C. (Forbregd) Evans.

John is survived by his wife, Carol I. (Brower), New Brighton; daughters Jennifer Evans-Hall (Roxxy Hall), New Brighton, and Brianna Evans (Karen Theiler), Fridley; son John F. Evans (Chrisie), Proctor, all in Minnesota; six grandchildren – Elizabeth, Hailie, Morgan, Paige, Graydon, and Anna; and four nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Gloria (Carl) Gengenbach, a nephew and niece, and his in-laws.

John graduated from Two Harbors High School and served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He attended the University of Minnesota and graduated from Northland College in Ashland. He taught English in the Ashland school district before earning master’s and specialist degrees in school administration. He led schools in Solan Springs, Drummond, and Sparta Wisconsin, and Kennedy, Minnesota. He changed careers to drive semi-trucks, a great joy for him, before retiring in 2004.

John and Carol’s parents introduced them when they were teens. They married in 1966, moved to Barksdale Township, Wisconsin in 1967, and lived in the country with a view of Chequamegon Bay and Ashland. John loved doing anything outside – boating on Lake Superior, riding horses, motorcycles, snowmobiles, four-wheeling, biking and skiing. His forest was his playground where he hunted and cleared trails for recreation for 47 years. John was a self-taught musician and played a variety of instruments, notably drums with the band “Trespass” in the 1970s, and in his later years for his own enjoyment, concertina and harmonica that he originally picked up when he was in the Navy. John and Carol moved to Duluth in 2014 where they enjoyed apartment living, dancing, navigating their pontoon on the St. Louis River, and being close to all their grandchildren. They settled in New Brighton in 2021. John was proud of his family, and he loved being a grandfather and gathering everyone together. “I love our family.” he would say with a grin when he looked around the family dinner table.

John’s family is grateful to the staff at the Brightondale Reflections Dementia Care, especially Amy House, and the Minnesota Veterans Home for their excellent care and friendship throughout the last 22 months of his life. His family misses him terribly and remembers him with love and affection, knowing he is at peace and free to ride on ahead to new trails.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Ashland, Wisconsin at Best Western The Hotel Chequamegon on Friday, June 28, 1 – 4 p.m.