Robert J. Evans

Robert “Bob” Evans died early Thursday morning, August 11, 2022 at Vancrest of Holgate surrounded by his family.  He was born on August 21st, 1944, to Ronald and Mary Kathryn (Oedy) Evans in Holgate, Ohio. He attended Holgate Local Schools and graduated in 1962. In 1962 he met the love of his life, Mary (Kimberly) Evans at a drive-in movie theater. Bob and Mary were later married on June 18th, 1966, at St. Patrick’s Church in Grand Rapids, Ohio. Together they had three children, Eric (Nikki) Evans of Napoleon, Kimberly (Alan) Von Deylen of Napoleon and Gina (Jamey) Wellman of Defiance. Bob was a devoted family man, who worked 37 years at General Motors to provide for his family before his retirement. He was a member of the Holgate United Methodist Church, a UAW 211 retiree and a proud member of the NRA.  Bob and Mary loved to travel and visited all 50 states by their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Bob and Mary took their children on many of their traveling adventures, and they would later in life load up their van and take the grandkids along for the ride. Bob was a very supportive husband, dad, grandpa, and friend. After retirement, you could often find him at his grandkids sporting events, camera in hand, as he cheered them on and captured each moment. Bob knew no stranger and quite simply, to know him was to love him. He was always ready to lend a helping hand and he could always defuse any stressful situation with his incredible sense of humor. Throughout his battle with Parkinson’s disease, you could always count on Bob to approach each challenge the disease brought with a joke that was sure to make you laugh. Bob exemplified what it meant to be strong and courageous in the face of adversity. Bob was a proud member of the Holgate United Methodist Church and led a faith filled life.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Mary; children: Eric, Kim, and Gina and grandchildren Kelsie (Dominic) Pestello, Kyle (Halen Mealer) Evans, Clay Evans, Kayla Von Deylen, Kaylynn, Kasen, and Kayden Wellman. Step-grandchildren Teagan and Tate Sleigh; great-grandchildren Jade Evans and Serafino Rossi; Bob’s little buddy Jackson Hastings; his sister Therese Stantz, Hamilton, IN; sister-in-law, Nancy Jehanyar; brother-in-law Tom Kimberly and brother and sister-in-law Theo and Paula Heuer. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Gary Stantz; brother-in-law Ali Jehanyar and sis-in-law Joyce Kimberly.

There will be a private burial service with the immediate family.  There is a public “ice cream social” celebration of Bob’s life, on his birthday, August 21, 2022 in the Holgate United Methodist Church at 1:00 pm.  If making out a contribution in Bob’s memory, please consider the Holgate United Methodist Church, Hospice of Putnam County or the BIG and LOUD event at Vancrest of Holgate. The Zachrich Family Funeral Home of Holgate has been entrusted with Bob’s services.