LEBO, Kan. – Dean Howard Evans, 91, passed away Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at his home in Lebo, Kan. Dean was born Feb. 7, 1929, in Osage City, Kan., the son of Thomas Howard Evans and Evelyn Alma (Lloyd) Evans.
Dean graduated in 1947 from Lebo High School. He worked at the D.P. Jones store, in Lebo, until serving in the United States Air Force from 1948 to 1952.
Dean and Frankie Lorraine Casey were married on June 7, 1951. A daughter, Gail Lynette Evans was born on Oct. 20, 1955.
Following his military service in 1952 and through 2012, Dean farmed for George and Sue Evans, of Lebo, and also assisted with weaning and breaking colts for their annual horse sale. He was employed from 1954 to 1963 as service and sales manager for Lebo Implement Company. From 1964 until retirement in 1990, he served as the postmaster in Lebo.
Dean was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 1980 Emporia, Kan., a 61-year member of the American Legion Post 323, Lebo, and a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles 3890, Osage City. He served on the Lebo City Council from the mid-1950s through 1990, and was a volunteer fireman and fire chief for many decades. He was a member of the Lebo United Methodist Church.
He was a man who never knew a stranger. His interests were many, from motorcycling and hunting in his early days to boating, dancing, farming, and helping others. Dean was an avid NASCAR fan who rarely missed watching a race. He was always a positive thinker and even when negative came his way he took it on as a challenge not a problem, calling it “just another speed bump in the road of life.”
He is survived by his wife of 40 years and best friend, Terry Lee; daughter, Gail (Jon) Dunbar, Lebo; brother and sister-in-law, Evan L. and Pat Evans, Hutchinson, Kan.; sister, Mary Becker Ervin, Burlington, Kan.; stepdaughter, Lori (Randy) Miller, Lebo; stepsons, Chad (Molly) Wolf, Overland Park, Kan., and Travis Wolf, Gardner, Kan.; grandson, Andrew (Crystal) Dunbar, Richmond, Kan.; step-grandchildren, Shawn (Kristen) Miller, Amber Barrett, and Taylor (Storm) Cartee, all of Lebo, and Taylan and Connor Wolf, of Overland Park, Kan.; and 12 great-grandchildren plus many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Frankie Casey Evans; nephew, Gene Evans; and brothers-in-law, Donald Becker and Jerry Ervin.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home, Lebo. Following services the family invites friends to gather in remembrance at the Heidi Inn, Lebo. Cremation will follow services with private inurnment in Lincoln Cemetery.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Lebo First Responders or Lebo American Legion Post 323 and sent in care of Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home, 107 W. Sixth St., Lebo, KS 66856. Condolences can be left at vanarsdalefs.com.
