Obit: Walker, Evelyn Irene (1922— 2016)

Contact: Cindy Lindau
Email: lindau21@yahoo.com

Surnames: Walker, Berlin, Dohms, Flynn, Flynn-Haskins, Fredrickson, Gilbertson, Hansen, Haskins, Jackson, Johnsen, Kodesh, Light, Mazola, Mortenson, Nelli, Prock, Seelow, White, Wynes

Source--Rice Lake (Wis) Chronotype (Rice Lake, Barron County, Wisconsin) Wednesday July 20, 2016 page 8A

WALKER, EVELYN IRENE (January 21, 1922—July 17, 2016)

Evelyn Walker, 94, of Rice Lake, Wi formerly of Fairchild, WI, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, July 17. She was born in Catawba, WI on January 21, 1922 to Harry and Christine (Johnsen) Hansen.

Evelyn moved to the Neillsville, WI area where she attended school. At age 15 Evelyn moved to Chicago, IL to work as a nanny. She was married to John "Bud" Flynn and had two children, Judy and Janet, and later divorced. She lived and worked in Chicago, IL, Milwaukee, WI, St. Paul, MN and Miami, FL.

In April of 1954 she married Durward "Dewey" Walker. They had two children, Steven and Shirley. Together she and Dewey operated the Wagon Wheel Cafe and Truck Stop for 23 years. In 1976 she went to work as house parent for Sunburst Youth Homes in Neillsville, WI and worked there until her retirement in 1987.

Evelyn had many passions including writing, sewing, cooking, gardening, the lake, hummingbirds and being "Grandma" to her 4-H kids but above all she loved spending time with her family and friends.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Durward Walker; daughter, Janet Flynn-Haskins; son-in-law, Gary Gilbertson; grandson, Jerome Gilbertson; four brothers, Orbert, Melnard, Leland and Everett "Buddy" Hansen; and seven sisters, Genevieve Jackson, Sylvia White, Pearl Prock, Belle Mazola, Bernice Hansen, Eleanor Seelow and Carol Mortenson.

Evelyn Walker is survived by a son, Steven (Joy) Walker of Fall Creek, WI; daughters Judy Gilbertson of Eau Claire, WI and Shirley (Lannie) Berlin of Rice Lake, WI; grandchildren, Jeff Gilbertson, Julie (LaMoine) Dohms, Andrew (Kelly) Haskins, Alan (Catherline) Haskins, Lisa (Charles) Wynes, Jackie Prock, Angela (Gabe) Nelli, Arianne (Steve) Fredrickson, Cooper Berlin, Christine (Justin) Kodesh and Courtney Berlin; 18 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Lila Light of Pensacola, FL; and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rice Lake, WI, Bishop James Powers officiating, with interment in Neillsville Cemetery in Neillsville, WI. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, July 25 2016 at Appleyard's Home for Funerals in Rice Lake and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.