William E. Evans, III

William E. Evans, III, MD, died peacefully at his home in Zumbrota, MN surrounded by family on June 8, 2024.

Dr. Evans was born in Forty Fort, PA on May 22, 1931 to Mr. and Mrs. William E. Evans, Jr. He grew up in Harveys Lake, PA with early interests in birds and aviation, then went on to Wesleyan University and Wilkes College. In 1957, he married Cynthia Linton of Merion, PA, and through a Navy medical program earned his degree from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. 

Dr. Evans served a four-year commitment for the Navy with medical training and practice in Cleveland, OH, Charleston, SC, Pensacola, FL, and Bethesda, MD. During this time, he attained his pilot license and, never letting go of his interest in birds, saw one of the last known Bachman's Warblers (now extinct) near the former Naval Hospital in Charleston. His passion for birding ultimately took him from the Aleutian Islands to Antarctica, to his backyards in Oronoco and Zumbrota. 

While in Charleston, he pursued military aviation and became a naval flight surgeon. This interest led to three years studying aerospace medicine at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, and then working as a flight surgeon for Lockheed in Burbank, CA and at Edwards and Henderson Air Force Bases.

In 1970, Dr. Evans accepted a position in aerospace medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. In Mayo's rich medical environment, he would move on to develop expertise and love for general internal medicine, caring for local and international patients for over 46 years. He is perhaps best known at Mayo for his contributions toward establishing the emergency medicine subspecialty. Walking to work was a daily ritual and he frequently did so before dawn. 

Following his divorce in 1995, he married Susan Mesko of Rochester, MN. They enjoyed their isolated acreage in Oronoco and traveled world wide, exploring the cultures of each place they went. Their move to Zumbrota continued their dream of a peaceful, rural life.

Dr. Evans will be deeply missed by his wife, Susan; children, William (Miranda), Carolyn, Allyson, and Cynthia Evans; his grandchildren, Maya and Evan Knutson, Joseph and Calista Eskew, and Ivy and Veery Evans; his stepchildren, Melissa Smith (Brian) and Alison Scott (Corey), and step grandchildren, Isabella and Cullen Smith, and Hayden Emma, Aria, and Salem Scott; and his sister, Carol Storrs of Acton, MA.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William E. Evans, Jr. and Alice Gordon Evans, and his stepson, Jordan.

The family wishes to express their appreciation for the excellent care Dr. Evans received over the past year from staff at Benedictine Living Community in Red Wing, MN, and from his caregivers at Heartland Hospice. The family also greatly appreciates the support they received from neighbors and friends over the past year. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Zumbrota Area Ambulance.

The memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, June 14, 2024 at Mahn Family Funeral Home - Rochester Chapel with an hour of visitation prior to the service. Rev. Mamy Ranaivoson MD, will be officiating the service. http://www.zumbrotaambulance.org/