Evelyn Balk
October 25, 1912 ~ January 18, 2009
Evelyn A. Balk, age 96 of Lawler, Iowa died Sunday morning January 18, 2009, at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2009, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Lawler with Rev. David M. Beckman celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed on the casket by her five children. Serving as lector will be Maxine Balk. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Marlys Smith and Nancy Baker. Ruth McKone will be the organist accompanied by Sherri Achen as vocalist.
Interment will be in St. Rose Cemetery, rural Waucoma with Gary Schmitt, Robert Smith, Richard Balk, Leo Balk, Gerald Balk and Marlin Balk serving as pallbearers.
Friends may call 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home, Lawler where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Rosary and a 6:00 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at church on Wednesday.
Evelyn Ann Balk was born October 25, 1912, in rural Winneshiek County near Protivin, IA, the daughter of George and Ida (Jirak) Bouska. She attended rural country school near their home east of Protivin. On June 25, 1935, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church she married Leo Ulrich Balk. To this union five children were born.
Evelyn and her husband farmed their entire married lives east of Lawler. Leo died October 9, 1999. Evelyn loved being on the farm raising chickens and tending to her vegetable and flower gardens. Working on the farm gave her great joy. She will always be remembered for the love she shared with her family.
Survivors include four sons, Joe Balk, Allen (Neoma) Balk, all of Little Turkey, Melvin Balk and Marvin Balk, both of Lawler; one daughter, Marvelene Schmitt (Jene Smith) of Ft. Atkinson, IA; seven grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son-in-law, Ernest Schmitt; a great-grandson, Philip Hayek; one brother, Frank Bouska; one sister, Edna Praska.
To Marvelene, Melvin, Marvin and brothers, I read about your Mother, Evelyn in the New Hampton paper. She was always such a pleasant lady. You and your families are in my thoughts and prayers. With deepest sympathy, Jeff and Pat Sommerlot, (Scholbrock) Marshalltown, Iowa
My sincerest condolences go out to the family at this difficult time. May Evelyn rest in peace. She is in a better place now and watching over all.