John Lewis Evans

Please join the family online at https://youtu.be/Bj_61amfXW8 if you are unable to attend the service in person. John died peacefully at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, two days shy of his 77th birthday, with his family surrounding him. Born in Highland Park, MI to Eldred Lewis and Hazel (Mills) Evans, John went to Highland Park High School and graduated in 1963. He married JoEllen Virginia Kent, the joy and light of his life, December of 1966. They were high school sweethearts and were active in school choir and Interlochen All State choir, igniting a lifelong love of music. After the couple was married, John finished his degree in Sociology at Wayne State University, graduated in December 1967, and directly afterward earned a Master’s in Education in December 1968. Ever an advocate of education, John attended Michigan State University, working towards a Doctorate in Administration and got all but his degree when he decided dissertations are bull*@#%. John leaves behind his beloved wife of nearly 56 years, his siblings Roy (Joan) of Huntington Woods, Al (Ellen) of Spencer, NY, Ruth (Dick) of Newcastle, CO, Grace (Sonny) of Rochester, NY, and Gary (Josie) of Boyne City, children Andrew (Theresa) of Traverse City, Jeremy (Rob) of Leland, Jessica (Paul) of Twin Lake, Marcus (Jamie) of Harbor Springs, and by the unending source of his pride - his 14 grandchildren: Meghan, Skye, Brian, Adrianne, Jonathan, Neil, Taven, Julia, Ocean, Vanessa, Jayden, Sadie, August, and Millie. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Linda Marie. Many would describe John as the original Renaissance Man before that was a popular term; John embodied this wholeheartedly in his work. He taught at Leland Public School, worked for the Area Agency on Aging, Northern Michigan Head Start, among many others. Eventually, John found it was best to be his own boss and took pride in his work as a contractor. He loved to regale anyone who would listen about the houses he built and painted. These skills as a contractor often translated to fixing anything at his own home with duct tape, including shoes. After retiring from working for everyone except JoEllen, John volunteered with her as a CASA, a role that allowed him to fight for people with less of a voice and use his persuasion skills to help those in need. John was insistent about helping people and lived that in every way possible — famously generous with his time, talent and money. He and JoEllen raised their own children and were foster parents to twenty 0ne children over more than three decades. John was the sort of person who would strike up a conversation with literally anyone. The family would often be surprised by a guest visitor or five who came to the house after meeting John in the grocery store or the post office and being invited over to the table. Everyone would take one less scoop of dinner, knowing that John would later make some of his glorious Whirley-Pop popcorn that evening. John was a voracious reader, often starting and finishing a large tome in the same sitting in an afternoon. A proud card-carrying member of the International Coffee Club, John was a big fan of the group of old guys who argued with each other in Leland each morning. Music was always a part of his life. He was a beautifully talented tenor who fostered the love of music in all his children and grandchildren, including singing as a family for performances for church and the community. John played trombone throughout his life, including playing for Encore Winds of Traverse City, the pit orchestras of Glen Lake Schools (where his children graduated), Leland Public School, and the Old Town Playhouse of Traverse City. His joking advice for all his kids and grandkids was to make sure they married a rich orphan (which none of them did). He also offered a service for grandkids, but not his kids, to call in to excuse them from school (“to let the other kids catch up”). His sense of humor was delightful and his kindness unending. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be directed to any cause that a left wing bleeding heart liberal like John would love. Suttons Bay Congregational Church PO BOX 70 218 W Madison St. Suttons Bay, MI 49682 will host a visitation Friday October 14 from 6:00 - 8:00pm and a Memorial Service Saturday October 15 11am

John Lewis Evans

September 28, 1945 - September 26, 2022