Lois Evans

Lois Rita Evans, age 97 died peacefully at St. Therese St. Odilia Hospice in Shoreview, MN on August 23, 2021. She lived with her husband Bill (94) at St. Therese in Woodbury, Minnesota

Lois was born December 13, 1923 in Madison, Wisconsin to Edna and Joseph Coenen. She was one of 6 children.

She graduated from West High School in Madison and went on to get a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Lois took the train to Schenectady, NY to work for General Electric during WWII. She returned to Madison in 1946 when she met Bill, who was her brother Chuck’s best friend.

Bill and Lois were married in November of 1948 and had 5 children. They eventually built a solar home on Prior Lake where she spent countless hours watching the kids play in the lake and tend to her magnificent gardens.

Bill and Lois were married for 72 wonderful years and had many adventures together that included winters in Arizona and trips around the country in their motor home.

When Lois retired at age 63 she began taking water color classes in Arizona and blossomed into an amazing water color artist. She started “Painting Pals” in Cold Spring, MN. She had several gallery shows and sold countless pieces of her art and greeting cards. She continued to paint until the age of 96 and was a well respected artist by her peers.

In addition to her parents, Lois joins her brothers Bud and Chuck and sister Mary Helen and their spouses Dorothy Coenen, Jean Coenen, and Earl Chamberlin, nephews John Coenen and Geoffrey Chamberlin.

She is survived by her husband Bill, sister Carol Coenen, OP, brother Rodney Coenen, sister in law Theo Dahl (Byron), children Pat Evans (Sandy), Tim Evans (Alex), Carly Evans (Chris) , Teresa Evans, Steve Evans (Sue). Grandchildren, Kristin Ebel (Derrick), Rachel Evans, James Evans (Emily), Alec Evans, Marc Evans, Kayla Schowalter (Dave) and two great grandchildren Lane and Benjamin.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, September 11, 2021, at the Church of St. Joseph, with visitation beginning  at 10:30 a.m.  Burial will be at the Calvary Cemetery.  Online condolences maybe sent to the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.