Greensburg
John Milton Evans, 92, of Greensburg, Indiana, died Monday, November 28, 2016, at the Aspen Place Health Campus. He was born at home in Decatur County on August 17, 1924, to the late Glenn R. Evans and Elmira Robbins Evans.
John loved the Lord, his family and his cattle business. He was proud of the seven generations of the Evans Family of Decatur County. The Evans Family Farm was homesteaded from the U.S. Government in 1834. He married AnnaBelle Friedersdorf on July 29, 1944. After sixty-one years of marriage and working together in their cattle business, she died on May 10, 2005. In January of 2006, he married Betty Galloway. She died on January 16, 2015.
John graduated from Jackson Township High School in 1942. He farmed his entire life and retired in 2012. He served his community through the Decatur County Fair Board, Decatur County Farm Bureau, 4-H Council, 4-H leader, F.F.A. Advisory Board, Westport Masonic Lodge and as a deacon of the Sardinia Baptist Church. Governor Frank O’Bannon awarded him the Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an Indiana citizen. John received the Certificate of Distinction by the Purdue Agriculture Alumni Association, which is based upon outstanding service to agriculture. Other accomplishments and service include: named the Decatur County Master Farmer and State Cattleman of the Year, received the Decatur County Agriculture Hall of Fame award, served as the President of the State Cattleman’s Association, featured on the front cover of the Indiana Beef magazine, served as cattle judge, hosted many farm groups on his farm and served as guest lecturer for Purdue’s College of Agriculture Advanced Farm Management class. John also earned the Eagle Scout Award at age sixteen.
Survivors include his son, Larry M. Evans (Carol), Westport, Indiana; daughter, Teresa Ann Eloff, Lafayette, Indiana; five grandchildren, Jane Evans Harrison (Clint Harrison), Greensburg, Indiana, Jimmie Michael Eloff II (Nikki Knezovich Eloff) of Libertyville, Illinois, Kate Evans Mann (Jared Mann) of Keller, Texas, Michelle Eloff Blom (Brian W. Blom) of Lafayette, Indiana, and John H. Evans (Krista Galloway Evans) of Westport, Indiana; and seven great-grandchildren.
Besides his wives and parents, he was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Ellie Kate Mann.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, December 2, 2016, at the Sardinia Baptist Church with the Rev. Tom Rust officiating. Family and friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, December 1, 2016, at the Bass & Gasper Funeral Home in Westport. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service on Friday.
Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Sardinia Baptist Church, Aspen Place Healthcare Activity Fund or to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.bassgasper.com.
