Jan Evans

The open house celebrating the life of Jan Evans, of Ottertail and formerly of Wadena, will be held on Saturday, July 27, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at The Otter Supper Club in Ottertail. A Time of Remembrance will begin at 11:30. Inurnment will be at a later date in the columbarium in Wadena, Cemetery, Wadena, MN. Jan, age 81, passed away with family at her side on July 15, 2024, at Essentia Health Hospital in Fargo, ND. Janet, known by everyone as “Jan”, was born to Nicholas and Mildred (Berry) DeBoer on July 28, 1942, in Crookston, MN, and lived her early years in Eldred. She graduated from Crookston Central High School with the Class of 1960, and worked as a bank cashier before continuing her education at Moorhead State College. On September 1, 1962, Jan married Paul Willard Evans in Crookston. They made their home in Bloomington, Wadena, Ottertail, Angle Inlet and after Paul died in 2010, Jan returned to Ottertail. She focused her energies on raising their three children and making memories with her grandchildren. She later worked as a real estate agent with Boll Realty in Ottertail and North Border Realty in Baudette, selling property at the Northwest Angle & Islands. Anyone who knew Jan knew what fun really was! That was her hobby, making life fun for everyone! Her interests included playing Bridge, having fun, accessorizing with “stylish” purses, shoes and sunglasses, more fun, and planning “themed” Christmas / holiday gatherings for family and friends. Preceding Jan in death were her husband, Paul; parents, Nicholas and Mildred; siblings: Gerald and Dennis DeBoer, Ethel Brubakken and Lois Samuelson; parents-in-laws, Willard and Abigail Evans; brothers-in-law, Thomas Brubakken, Henry Brei, and James Dix; and sister-in-law, Mary Brei. Greatly loved, Jan will be remembered by her children, Lori (Ken) Kneisl of Wadena, Lisa (Ken) Niewolny, of Wausau, WI, and David (Darnell) Evans of Omaha, NE; 7 grandchildren & 13 great-grandchildren; siblings, Debra (Marc) Hanson; sister-in-law, Margaret Dix; brother-in-law, Roger Samuelson; along with a host of friends. Honorary urn bearers will be her family members and everyone who called her friend. Memorials may be directed to Uof MN atten: Lions Children’s Eye Clinic (www.mhealthfairview.org), St. Jude's Research (www.stjude.org/give/memorials) or Astera Health Foundation atten: Cancer Center (www.asterahealth.org/foundation)

Jan Evans

July 28, 1942 - July 15, 2024