Ronald John Evert

Born on the family farm in Howells, Nebraska on September 26, 1935, Ron was the second oldest – and eldest son – of 12 children of Rudolf and Verna Evert. The family’s Bohemian roots ran deep, with both Rudolf and Verna descended from Czech and German immigrants to the United States. Many of the family’s neighbors in the tiny village of Howells were cousins, in-laws, and longtime friends who shared their Czech Catholic heritage.

Ron’s innate curiosity manifested early in life, and he is said to have read virtually every book in the Howells library at least once during his childhood. That curiosity would carry him into the US Army at 18, where a whole new world opened up to him. He ate his first plate of spaghetti, met his first person of color, and took his first steps outside of Nebraska.

He served in an Army mountaineering unit and, after surviving a near-fatal fall, he was medically discharged from the Army. The GI Bill enabled him to enroll in Creighton University, where he studied business and was the president of his business fraternity. He relished the opportunities Creighton provided to challenge his mind and expand his horizons.

It was while working in Omaha after graduation that his life changed forever—he met Joan Harrington and was immediately smitten. Her sharp wit and outsized sense of adventure were a perfect match for his. Within a year, Ron and Joan were married, had built a house, and were expecting their first child. Over the next seven years, four more children and countless adventures would follow.

Ron’s business ventures in building and managing manufacturing plants took the young family from Nebraska to Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, and back to Texas. He defied societal norms, hiring women and people of color to work in his plants in a time and in locations where that was simply not done. His inclusive hiring policies even drew the ire of the local Ku Klux Klan chapter, leading to threats. But if his progressive attitudes failed to impress the locals, they made a lasting impression on his children.

Though Ron’s work often took him far from home, he and Joan only used that as fodder for their adventures. Living in Tennessee and South Carolina invited weekend tours of Civil War battlefields. A long stint at a project site in Houston turned into an excuse for Joan and the children to spend many weekends in Galveston. Business trips to El Paso turned into family road trips where the family enjoyed a “two-nation vacation” in the sister cities of El Paso and Juarez.

Closer to home, Ron remained a lifelong learner—he frequented Half Price Books, watched history documentaries, and read multiple newspapers per day—and instilled those values in his children. Family dinners were occasions for spirited discussions on current events, the evening news was family viewing, and he and Joan shared a daily ritual of working crossword puzzles together. Meaningful conversations accompanied spirited games of Tarocks or cribbage. Opposing viewpoints were welcomed and respected, and he never shied away from changing his mind in response to a persuasive argument.

Even while running multiple businesses and traveling far and wide, Ron’s farming roots were never far from him. He for many years owned a farm outside of Terrell, where a great many magic items were said to reside. “I think I’ve got something out at the farm that’ll work” was a common refrain that is still echoed today by all of his children. He was an extraordinary gardener and succeeded in growing just about every type of vegetable, herb, or flower you could imagine. USDA hardiness zones were no match for Ron Evert—his green thumb was unparalleled. His and Joan’s home in Lake Highlands featured a motley assortment of flowers overflowing a veranda in the front yard that was the envy of his neighbors.

He was also a talented and creative cook, incorporating homegrown vegetables and herbs into a wide variety of meals, ranging from a traditional Czech roast goose with sauerkraut to chicken and wild rice soup to smoked brisket. But baking was where Ron really excelled, having spent years perfecting his kolache recipe. Fillings ranged from the traditional apricot, prune or poppyseed to more exotic selections like mango. It was not uncommon to find him in the kitchen, smudged with flour, kneading kolache dough to the perfect softness. He probably baked thousands of kolaches in his lifetime, and he distributed the sweet goodies to family, friends and neighbors who were eager to enjoy Ron’s latest batch.

Ron loved his life and lived it to the fullest. He adored his Joanie and cared for her with great tenderness before her death in 2013. He loved his children deeply and was immensely proud of each of them. He prioritized his mental and physical health in the last decade of his life, wanting to remain active and engaged as he moved into his 80s. He rediscovered his faith and began attending Mass once again and, later, enthusiastically participating in Protestant services at Ventana.

In the final years of his life, living with dementia didn’t dim Ron’s light. He continued to read his newspapers and watch documentaries. He enjoyed listening to country music and participating in the activities available at Ventana—including, memorably, a visit from a kangaroo joey. He enjoyed the companionship of his caregivers and charmed all of the Ventana staff with his dapper style and 1000-megawatt smile.

Ron was preceded in death by his beloved wife Joan, with whom he is finally reunited. He is survived by his five children: Jason Evert; Lisa Evert; Stacy Storey and husband Alan; Justin Evert; and Thad Evert and wife Jennifer. He also leaves behind grandchildren Alex Evert, Katie Evert, Ben Storey, Anna Storey, and Olivia Evert, all of whom will miss their “GPR.”

He is also survived by his brothers Ralph, David, Marvin, Gary, and Gerald Evert; sisters Darlene Pace, Phyllis Haugh, and Lois Renner; brother-in-law David Harrington; sister-in-law Cynthia Davis; and dozens of nieces and nephews from both the Evert and Harrington clans.

The Evert family thanks Luz Tellez, Laura Fuentez, Nick Green, and Nina Pineda for their kindness and extraordinary care for Ron in the last several years. The family also extends their gratitude to the wonderful 5 North team at Ventana for providing a welcoming and caring environment. Each of you brought tremendous joy, comfort, and continued adventure to his life.