Donovan Evans

Donovan Evans

April 13, 1914 – December 04, 2010

Visitation: 3 pm to 5 pm on Tuesday December 07, 2010 at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell, Iowa
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Wednesday December 08, 2010 at First Baptist Church of Grinnell, Iowa
Interment: , at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell, Iowa

Donovan was born on April 13, 1914, in Grinnell to Charles and Nellie Berriman Evans. He was raised in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 1933. After graduating from high school he remained on the farm and rented several small farms nearby. On February 11, 1942, he was married to Patty Abel in Grinnell. The couple lived on the family acreage and farmed and raised livestock. In December of 1950, he began working for Clair Strand at the United Food Market. He was a loyal member of the United Food team until his retirement in 1972. After leaving the grocery store he did odd jobs and working as a custodian at the First Baptist Church, the Grinnell Middle School and the Mayflower Community. He was voted “Employee of the Year” in 1976 by his co-workers at the Mayflower Community.

Donovan was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church and served as a church trustee and on the deacon board. He was also a member of the Farm Bureau and the Just-A-Mere Club.

Survivors include his son, Larry (Nancy) Evans of Sioux Falls, S.D.; his daughter, Jan (Mark) McCaffrey of Red Oak, IA; five grandchildren, Susan Shaffer, David and Julie Evans, Chandra and Aaron McCaffrey; and five great grandchildren, Megan, Jacob, Mykenzy and Jordan Shaffer and Keegan McCaffrey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 1995; one brother and two sisters, who all died of influenza in 1918.

Memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church or to the Mayflower Human Needs Fund.