Obituary of Marilyn Evans

Marilyn (Anderson) Evans 94 of Iowa City, Iowa passed away peacefully on November 23, 2023, at Briarwood Healthcare Center Hospice Care.

For her family and friends that knew Marilyn this marks the end of an era of genuine class and dignity that she lived every day of her long life. Born on October 8, 1929, in Princeton, Illinois she learned from mother Dorothy and Father Joesph what it meant to live a life that reflected your best qualities.

Marilyn graduated from the University of Iowa in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Therapy. She was especially proud of her time at the college with the Iowa Scottish Highlanders performing on the bagpipes during the Iowa football games.

She married Gerald (Jerry) Walter Evans on June 27, 1953, in Princeton, Illinois. They lived the life of the post war generation in Rock Island, Illinois surrounded by an extensive group of friends who celebrated the booming economic expansion of the time. They raised four daughters Nancy (John), Elizabeth (Mark), Sarah and Jennifer (Jon). The family were members of the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club for over 50 years, and they especially enjoyed the Sunday buffets at the club, always dressed for the occasion.

Continually looking for self-improvement, she loved to exercise and was into yoga before it was cool.

Marilyn worked in the Davenport School District and later Augustana College after earning a master’s degree from Western Illinois University. She worked to improve the lives of young students through speech therapy and passing along the passion by mentoring student interns at Augustana.

Always contributing and sharing, she was a member of the Junior Board of Rock Island and especially enjoyed the annual fund-raising Mardi Gras Charity Ball black tie event. After retirement she continued giving through her volunteer work with PEO, Meals on Wheels and WVIK radio reading to the visually impaired.

She was a loving Grandmother to eight grandchildren Abigail, Margot, Hannah, Molly, Madison, Dylan, Lucy, Nicholas and nine great grandchildren.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Dorothy, husband Jerry, sister Barbara and daughter Sarah.

Still giving today Marilyn has gifted her body to the Deeded Body Program of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.