Milton Durrell Evans, 97, of Lincoln, NE, Salt Lake City, UT and Estes Park, CO passed away Jan. 15, 2015 in Salt Lake City.
Survived by wife Marjorie (Wilkinson) Evans, children Doug Evans (Barb Derrick) and Sheila Evans (Bob Cort III); grandchildren Brendan Wamstad-Evans (Kristi) and Gwyn Evans (Chris), Lincoln; Susanne Evans Mostafa (Josh), Australia; Ruth Evans Lane (William McClain), Los Angeles; Nathan Evans Lane, Argentina; Matthew Evans Lane, Olympia, WA; great-grandchildren Anaka and Forrest Wamstad-Evans; Rhiannon, Tara, Kalila, Ashoka and Zenevieva Evans-Mostafa and Vivian McClain, as well as many step-children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren through his 18-year marriage to Marge. Preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Leola (Husemoller) Evans and brother Fred Evans.
Milton was born in Glenfield, ND and grew up in Battle Creek, NE where he discovered tennis, a lifelong passion, and graduated from Battle Creek High School. He worked his way through Wayne State College (NE), earning a BA, where he participated in school plays attracting the attention of Hollywood talent scouts. He chose education, starting his career as a teacher at Dunbar, NE. He became a principal and superintendent in Nebraska and Iowa schools before earning his wings as a pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served as a flight instructor during the war and was proud that all of his students earned their wings. After the war, he reassumed his role as superintendent of schools in Iowa until he was tapped to design the American Dependent Schools in Germany, where he also served as superintendent until he returned to Nebraska in 1951 to finish his PhD at the University of Nebraska. He joined Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1954, serving as head of the education department, dean of men and eventually dean of students until 1982.
Beginning in his 40’s he played 10-12 hours of tennis a week––into his 90th year. He maintained his interest in theater, read, played ping-pong and practical jokes and traveled the world. He was a member of Nebraska School Masters and served as President of Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Gamma Mu. He served on the boards of Bryan Memorial Hospital and Lincoln Public Schools Foundation. He helped found Leadership Lincoln and University Place Community Organization (UPCO) and volunteered for the Boy Scouts of America, the Lincoln Community Foundation and the Nebraska United Nations chapter. He served as a member of First United Methodist Church and numerous other professional and civic organizations, including Northeast Rotary, Sunflower Club and Candlelight discussion club.
Celebration of Life service: 10:30 AM, Sat. Jan 24th, First United Methodist Church, 50th & St. Paul, Lincoln.
Memorials to the Milton and Leola Evans Scholarship Fund at the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation or the Milton Evans Memorial at Nebraska Wesleyan.