Section: 323A Lot: 54 Grave: 3

Obituary

Evelyn Ann Rust was born on June 22, 1926 on the family farm near Sheffield, Iowa. Evelyn’s experiences growing up on the north Iowa prairie would influence her whole life. She absorbed the values of hard work, family, and faith from her parents Albert and Lovenia Rust. Evelyn learned a wide variety of traditional, practical skills essential to rural life in the Great Depression. They grew their own food, cooled it with ice cut from the creek, and heated the house with wood. Lovenia and her daughters made the family’s clothes, including summer outfits from patterned feed sacks.

Evelyn and her three siblings all had chores. Her least favorite was collecting corncobs in the hog lot to use in the cook stove. In the summer Evelyn drove the hay wagon, a small girl in a sunhat guiding the big draft horses. When chores were done, it was time for fun – riding ponies, playing in the grove, swimming in the creek, games on the porch, listening to the radio.

Evelyn began her formal education in the same one-room schoolhouse her father had attended. In temperate weather she rode her pony Judy to school. In winter Bert hitched up the horses for a sleigh ride across the frozen fields snuggled under heavy robes. In 6th grade Evelyn transferred to a larger school in nearby Chapin and rode the school bus. After graduating in 1943 Evelyn followed her sister Jean to Iowa State for one year and then transferred to the warmer climate of Texas Women’s College which had a program in occupational therapy.

Following graduation in 1947 Evelyn met her future husband Jim Hodges at a wedding in Ames. They were married in March 1949 and moved to Burlington where Jim began his career with the Iowa State Extension Service. Evelyn took her job as a homemaker and mother to their three children Carolyn, Lee, and Alan seriously. She utilized the traditional homemaking skills learned on the farm to a high degree. She also nurtured her highly artistic nature with her painting and music.

Evelyn and Jim were both very active in the community. They took an avid interest in their children’s schooling. They were loyal members of Oak Street Baptist Church and active in civic affairs. Evelyn eventually continued her own education earning a master’s degree from Western Illinois University. After 17 years at home, she resumed her professional career in occupational therapy. Over the next 25 years she worked for Klein Hospital, Burlington School District, AEA and in private practice.

Following Jim’s death in 2007 Evelyn pursued an active lifestyle determined to maintain her body and mind. She especially loved gardening. Serious falls brought her to Klein Center for the final months of her life where she received compassionate care until her death August 19, 2021. Her room overlooked cornfields so familiar to her since childhood. She had come full circle back to the prairie.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter Carolyn (Rob) Dorting, her son Alan (Susan Marynowski), daughter-in-law Kathy Hodges, granddaughter Jamie, great-grandchildren Gabriella and Ashton. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, son Lee, parents Albert and Lovenia Rust, and siblings Jean Sturges, Roger Rust and Eloise Halm.

Lunning Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be Saturday, August 28th from 11:00 a.m. -12:45 p.m. in the Oak Street Baptist Church social hall with the service to follow at 1:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Pastor T.J. Rehak and Pastor Dean Graber will officiate. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery.
Evelyn would be honored by contributions to the Des Moines County Historical Society, Southeastern Community College Foundation or Oak Street Baptist Church.