Louis Richard Evans

Louis Richard Evans, 96, of Belleville, Illinois, born October 27, 1921 in St. Louis, Missouri, passed away Saturday, April 14, 2018 at the Lady of the Snows Dammert Center, surrounded by his loving family.

Lou proudly served as an Army Staff Sergeant in WWII as a member of the 903rd Field Artillery Batallion, 78th Lightening Infantry Division from March 1943 to January 1946; which took him to the Battle of the Bulge, The Remagen Bridge, and The Hurtgen Forest. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. His working years saw him at the Nickel Plate Railroad, which later became the Norfolk and Western Railroad. He was a parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Peace for over 50 years. He was also a member of the Con Trios Yacht Club, St. Louis Power Squadron, Optimists of Belleville; and the Battle of the Bulge Association. As an avid boater he took the Jeni-Bil on many adventures. He enjoyed traveling, corresponding with friends and working in the yard of the home he lovingly built. Most of all, he loved being a part of the lives of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He never missed a thing. He will truly be missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his wife, of 36 years, Helen Evans, nee Werner; his parents, Louis and Ineze, nee Layton, Evans; two brothers, Kenneth and Melvin Evans; two sisters, Shirley (Clarence) Mersinger and Norma (Norman) Knapp; and his mother-in-law, Stella Werner.

Surviving to cherish his memory are his children, Eugene (Nancy) Sawalich, of Swansea, Illinois, Debra (Sam) Rose, of Belleville, Illinois, and Donna (Steve) Mathews, of Swansea, Illinois; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Scott) Martin, William (Shelley) Sawalich, Michael (Jamie) Rose, Christopher (Mary) Mathews, Mark (Kelly) Mathews, and John Mathews; seven great grandchildren, Rachel and Alec Martin, Maggie and Jack Sawalich, Hanna and Noah Rose, and Stella Mathews; two sisters-in-law, Betty Evans and Margie Foster; and many nieces and nephews; whom he dearly loved.

Memorials are appreciated to Honor Flight Network, American Diabetes Association or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Condolences may also be expressed online at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, April 20, 2018 at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois.

Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Belleville, Illinois with Father Matthew Elie officiating. Interment will follow in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Illinois.