Memorial
“Live every day to the fullest.”
This was Dorothy’s life motto which she accomplished with gusto. Dorothy was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 12/06/1927. She died peacefully in Cedar Rapids on 03/04/2023.
She lived in Cedar Rapids for most of her life except for a few years during World War II when she lived in Long Beach, California. She met her future husband, Alva, while attending Long Beach Poly High School. She moved back to Iowa and attended the University of Iowa graduating with a BS in Chemistry in 1949. She later would earn an MA in Education from Iowa in 1968.
She taught elementary school in the Cedar Rapids school District for 27 years at Noelridge, Pierce and Polk elementary schools. She was a lifelong advocate for learning, education and children. Dorothy was a member of and served on many organizations including: Retired Teachers Association, PEO Chapter LI, Iowa Accordion Club, Linn County Foster Care Review Board, Chi Omega, Delta Kappa Gamma, Phi Delta Kappa, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Book Club (Hisparians), BMV-613 US Marine Corps reunion group, Mr. Beans Knitting circle, Elections poll worker, FOCUS preschool volunteer, among others. She was an avid knitter and knitted over 500 sets of newborn cap and booties for Mercy Hospital .She never missed a vote in public election.
She loved her sweets, especially kolaches and ice cream. Czech was her native language, learning to speak English when she entered kindergarten. She was proud of her Czech heritage. While still driving, she loved to drive by the schools at which her granddaughters taught to see if they were with students at outdoor recess. She kept track of the number of college degrees earned by her family (most of which she helped finance). Family was first for Dorothy.
Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Chris Evan-Schwartz (Alan) and son, Eric R. Evans (Cheryl). She had three favorite grandchildren: Adam Evanschwartz (Sarah), Erin Evan-Schwartz, and Sarah Maher (Ben). She is also survived by six great grandchildren: Sam Evan-Schwartz, Noah Evanschwartz, Chavah Evanschwartz, Aryeh Evanschwartz, Charlie Maher, and Evan Maher. Also surviving are nieces Kathy Sarby and Sharon Hutt. She was preceded in death by her husband Alva A. Evans, Jr, parents Edward and Anne Zvacek, sister Marlene Loeltz and brothers-in-law William Loeltz and David Evans.
Contributions in Dorothy’s name may be directed to: Cedar Rapids Schools Foundation (https://crcsf.com), St Paul’s United Methodist Church (https://www.stpaulsumc.org), Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation (https://www.crlibrary.org/foundation).
In honor of Dorothy, please hug a child today, help and be kind to others, cherish and support all children, learn from your mistakes, commit yourself to education and learning, love and live every day to the fullest.
Service: 11:00 a.m. Thursday March 9, 2023, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. A visitation will be held on Wednesday March 8, 2023, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 4-6 p.m. Inurnment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website under the obituary for Dorothy Evans under the video tab starting at 11:00 AM on Thursday March 9, 2023.