Evelyn Hess

Golden, Colorado after a journey with Alzheimer’s the last few years. She was a breast cancer

survivor. She was 89 years old.

She was born in Cloquet, Minnesota on July 1, 1931. Her mother Mary (Dropp) Collins and her

father Henry Collins moved the family to Superior, Wisconsin where she grew up with her sister,

Geraldine. She attended St. Stanislaus Grade School and graduated from Cathedral High

School. She worked briefly at the Douglas County, Wisconsin, courthouse in the County Clerk’s

office to support her two children Leslie and Richard after her divorce from her first husband

Richard Smith.

She met Lewis Hess through her lifelong friends, Verna and Wayne Davis, married and moved

to Arvada, Colorado with her two children where she became mother to Starla, Craig and Kerry

(Lewis’s children with his deceased wife). Together they had Lonnie.

Evelyn loved her family and was a devoted daughter, taking care of her parents with love and

tenderness until their passing. She would do anything to make her family happy including

wishing she could win the lottery to share it with them all.

She enjoyed hosting family get together’s with food, music and abundant love. Favorite Holiday

feasts included Poticia, a traditional nut roll from Slovakia her mother made famous with the

family and Evelyn’s yummy German Chocolate Cake, a real treat at Christmas time. She

passed on her tradition of food and many others to her children and grandchildren.

Hawaii was her favorite vacation spot and when the family got together it was often a Hawaiian

theme with Hawaiian music and leis. She often reminisced of those times even in recent days.

Her wish was to take her children there to share her experiences.

We all inherited her great sense of humor. One Thanksgiving while sitting at the table after our

big meal, she asked Lewis to get a glass of water from the kitchen sink where she put a rubber

band around the sprayer. When Lew turned on the faucet he got a shower he didn’t expect!

She had a big heart and showered her family and friends with love through acts of service

including sharing her home with them whenever the need arose. It was second nature for her to

say “I love you!” with a big hug and kiss when ever we parted. She’s loved fiercely and deeply.

She took pride in her garden, especially her roses. Butterflies and birds brought a bright smile

to her face. The companionship of family pets meant a lot to her especially in her later years.

Evelyn is survived by her children, Leslie (Smith) Reger (Richard), Richard Smith, Starla Hess,

Kerry Hess (Bonnie), Lonnie (Gunter) Hess (Ryan), grandchildren, great grandchildren, her sister

Geri (Collins) Wall and nieces.

She was predeceased by Lewis Hess, her husband, mother, Mary (Dropp) Collins, her father

Henry Collins, her infant brother, Irwin, her step-son, Craig Hess and her brother-in-law, Dale

Wall.

A Celebration of Life with be held at a later date. She was cremated and will be interred with her

husband Lewis at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Susan G.

Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in her name. The links to her tribute pages are posted below.

Evelyn was deeply loved and will be missed forever.