William Donald Evenson

William Donald Evenson, age 74, of Holland, Michigan, died August 29, 2026. He was born in Hudson, MI, to Melvin and Rosa, and was raised in the Hudson area as the youngest of four. He had fond memories of growing up in this small town and loved his family. William took a particular interest in sports from an early age, especially golf, baseball, and football. He was part of a remarkable era of Hudson football, which eventually saw them winning a record number of consecutive games between 1968 and 1975. William could often be found getting into trouble with his two older brothers and caddying for his father on the golf course. William graduated from Hudson High School in 1970.

William earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Michigan State University in 1974 with high honor. During his time at Michigan State, he formed lifelong friendships and developed a moral compass dedicated to peace and justice. His love of MSU continued throughout his life. He went on to Ohio Northern University, where he graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 1977. With that degree, William dedicated most of his career to Legal Aid of Western Michigan. Through his work, he helped many people. He found purpose in assisting low income and vulnerable people to achieve justice and fairness. He was particularly driven to assist disabled individuals with their legal cases and to help them live with dignity. He believed that his life would be measured in what he gave back, and he gave generously, with care, dedication, and a kind heart.

While attending Ohio Northern, William met Elaine Gaiser. They were married in 1978 and soon moved to Holland, where they set down roots. Together they welcomed two daughters, Nora and Kassie. As a father, William was deeply involved and consistently present. He supported his daughters in all their endeavors. He spent countless hours at the pool, cheering and timing for Nora’s swim meets. He was a coach for Kassie’s softball for years and cheered from the sidelines for years afterward. Nora and Kassie especially remember attending Michigan State University football games as a family, meeting up to tailgate and share time together before cheering on a team they all loved. In adulthood, William continued to enjoy sports and could often be found on the golf course or playing and coaching softball with his church. He and his wife were actively involved with the First Presbyterian Church in Holland. He maintained his commitment to social justice issues and standing up for the most vulnerable in his community through his giving and engagement. He passed on these values to his daughters. William also remained a devoted husband, caring for his wife Elaine until her death in 2020.

William was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Elaine Evenson, his mother, Rosa Evenson; his father Melvin Evenson; his eldest brother Brian Evenson and sister in law Marsha. He is survived by his daughters, Nora (Joe) Wachter and Kassie (Nathan Christensen) Evenson, his grandsons Ethan and Clark Wachter, his brother David (Debbie) Evenson and his sister Linda (Larry) Richards and many nieces and nephews.

We remember William with love and gratitude—for the values he lived, the work he did, and the love and care he gave his friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the ACLU in his honor.