Kelly LaVerne Evenson's Obituary
Kelly LaVerne Evenson, 72 of LaCrosse passed away on April 6, 2016.
Kelly was born on 7-21-1943 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin to Harley and Caldon (Mossholder) Evenson. He attended Lincoln Junior and Central High Schools before entering UW LaCrosse.
On 3-16-1965 he entered the United States Air Force training at Lackland AFB and then Keesler AFB as a Communications-Electronics Specialist. He was stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany and served there as a Radar Field Repair Specialist for the 601st Radar detachment. His service in Germany gave him the opportunity to embrace the culture and he enjoyed traveling throughout Europe. He visited most of the western countries as well as Italian, Spanish, and French Gran-Prix races. Kelly was honorably discharged as a Sergeant on 1-5-1969 and returned to LaCrosse to finish his Letters and Science degree at UW-LaCrosse.
Kelly’s work record was quite impressive; he peddled papers for the LaCrosse Tribune, worked the counter at Neubauer Variety Store, was a salesman for Aid for Lutherans Insurance, was a ticket agent for the Milwaukee Railroad La Crosse, and then spent 36 years with the U.S. Social Security Administration. He served in many locations and positions throughout his career with the SSA eventually retiring from the La Crosse Office. In retirement, Kelly worked part-time at the Caledonia Street Antique Mall and was a tax associate for H&R Block. He was a Toastmaster Speaker Alumni, UWL Beta Sigma Chi fraternity alumni, lifetime member of the DAV where he had served as interim Commander and was a member of American Legion Post 52.
Kelly reveled in the rich history and beautiful buildings of LaCrosse.In 1969 Kelly married Suzanne NoffkeKuehl in LaCrosse. They adopted two beautiful girls, daughters Jinha in 1983 and Kimsoo in 1986. The family forever marked their adoption dates with their very own individual “Special Days”. Kelly’s health deteriorated after complications from a surgery in 2012 from which he was never able to fully recover. He spent time at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital and at the Veteran’s Home in King, WI, where he was a resident for three years. Kelly played baseball and fast-pitch softball in his early days and was an avid collector of Breweriana. For many years Kelly enjoyed trips to Beer shows throughout the U.S. with good friends. He was a longtime vendor at the Caledonia Antique Mall in LaCrosse and always looked forward to the Wednesday informal meetings there with friends. Kelly loved all times spent with his children and was very proud to have become a grandfather last year.
Kelly is survived by his daughters; Jinha (Ryan Servais) and their son Samuel of Brooklyn, New York and Kimsoo of Denver, Colorado; 3 brothers; Danny of LaCrosse; Harley (Debi) of Holmen; Robert (Regina); and one sister Mary (Jeff Abresch) of Madison. He is further survived by his ex-wife Suzanne of Onalaska and her brother Steve (Fran) Noffke of West Salem, sister-in-Law Pat Evenson and her sons Greg jr. (Miranda) and their son Jamie and daughter Audrey all of North Carolina and Scott (Elaine) and their daughter Elizabeth of New York City, as well as many cousins. Kelly was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Gregory, John, and sister-in-Law Barbara (Danny). Kelly was cremated and there will be no funeral per his request. A memorial ceremony will follow at a later date.
His family would like to thank Dan Schleifer and Tye Schwalbe for their assistance and friendship. Thank you to Dr. Earl Anderson for seeing Kelly through a most challenging period in his life, the 3rd and 4th floor nurses at King for their compassionate care and other dedicated staff at the Veteran’s Home, Mary Dittman for her dedicated care for Kelly while he was at King, and to the Nurses and Doctors at both Waupaca and Appleton Medical Centers for their care during his many visits.
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