Joan Helene Carlson Evans
Joan Helene Carlson Evans passed away February 3, 2011 at
home. She was born October 8, 1931 Minneapolis, Minnesota to
Helen Martha (Wahll) Carlson and Carlyle Robert (Bob) Carlson
Jr. Her big brother, Robert John Carlson, completed the family.
Soon after she was born, the family joined her father in Welland,
Ontario, Canada for the first five years of her life. Then they
moved to Waterloo, Iowa. While there, her father helped start the Girl
Scout Council and Joan began almost 50 years of involvement with
scouting. Summers were spent on Norway Lake near Pine River,
Minnesota with her very special Grandaunt Mathilda Horbach, (Aunty), where there were fish and frogs
to catch, swimming and rowing on the lake, chokecherries to
pick, chickens to feed, and lots of lazy summer sun.
Joan was 12 when her father was transferred back to
Minneapolis where she had grandparents, aunts and
grandaunts, uncles, and cousins. The family lived in St.
Louis Park. She graduated from St. Louis Park High School
and from the University of Minnesota in 1953 with a BS
degree in Occupational Therapy.
She was a member of SPAN (Student Project for Amity Among
Nations) and spent a quarter in Peru, studying the silver
industry-both the large commercial factories and the
individual smiths high in the mountain villages. Her OT
internships took her to Ann Arbor, MI; Honolulu, HA; Los
Angeles, CA; and the Heart Hospital at Mayo Memorial
Hospital at the U of Minnesota.
1953 was one of the most memorable years of her life. She
graduated from college, took her first job as an OT-at
Lincoln, NE Park School in the children’s handicap unit, and
met Jerry (Jerome Perry) Evans. Two weeks later they became
engaged, then were married April 10, 1954 in the Chapel of
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.
After Jerry graduated from Dental School in 1955, they moved
to Billings, MT. Joan start the first OT department at St.
Vincent’s Hospital, and worked there until the birth of
their first child, Jay Robert in 1957. He was followed by
Julie Helene and Jill Frances. Much of the family’s time was
spent on the ski slopes, camping, and building their cabin
on the Stillwater. After the children left home, she created
many pieces of stained glass, did sewing for Kent Interiors,
collected Blue Willow china, and read…she would always have
at least one book, [but usually more], that she was reading.
She enjoyed her home. She was a member of PEO Chapter BG.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her very special
Aunts Mary Ann Santee and Aunty.
She is survived by her husband Jerry; brother Bob; daughters
Jill and Julie; son Jay and wife Claire; grandchildren Tala,
Keeler, Carson; and great-grandson Jaydin; and special
cousin Judie (Jerry) Hess.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, February 9, 2011at the First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, do something fun with your family, laugh and enjoy life. If you wish, make a memorial to Habitat for Humanity to help a family, Special K Ranch, or First Presbyterian Church.
Remembrances
Please leave your name and remembrance in this public guest book. Your comments will be shared on this page and forwarded to the family.
Jerry, Jay, Julie and Jill, We send you our love, sympathy and prayers. We were saddened to see of Joan’s passing. She was a very thoughtful lady and so very proud of you kids and the grandchildren. She and I had many conversations in the office and on the phone. We will miss her. Dick and Marilyn Deines