Evelyn Grace Vacknitz

CELEBRANT
Fr. Joe Forcelle
LECTOR
Bud Schneider
MUSIC
Organist ~ Kathy Koenig
St. Leo Choir
Processional Hymn ~ “Be Not Afraid”
Offertory Hymn ~ “Amazing Grace”
Communion Hymns ~ “Ave Maria” ~ Kathy Koenig
“You Raise Me Up” ~ Josh Groban
Recessional Hymn ~ “On Eagle’s Wings”
GIFTBEARERS
Rebecca, Amanda & Sarah Wright
TRIBUTES
Tribute to Grandma Evy ~ Rebecca Wright
The Nightingale Tribute ~ Michael Wright
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS
Wayne & Arlo Schuurmans
Royal & Coleta Koch
Evelyn Nohava
Harvey Beck
Ellen Rodenberg
Elaine Vesely
CASKETBEARERS
All of Evelyn’s Grandchildren
Evelyn Grace Vacknitz was born on May 12, 1936 to Frank and Helen (Herman) Schneider in Dante, South Dakota. She graduated from Tyndall High School in 1954. Evelyn then attended nursing school at Mount Marty College in Yankton. After graduating she went to Denver, Colorado and worked one year at the VA Hospital. Evelyn returned to Tyndall where she worked for 49 years as a registered nurse at the Tyndall Clinic.
On December 27, 1961, Evelyn married Allen Vacknitz at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Tyndall. They made their home on a farm three miles west of Tyndall for 51 years. Together they raised four daughters. In July they moved into the Avon Manor.
Evelyn was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church and St. Leo’s Altar Society in Tyndall. Evelyn was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a great cook. She loved to attend her daughter’s sporting events and all of her grandchildren’s activities. She and Al loved to go fishing together.
Evelyn passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on October 31, 2013 at the age of 77.
Evelyn is survived by her husband Allen Vacknitz; four daughters: Connie (Rodney) Van Gerpen of Avon, Kay (Glenn) Wright of Sioux Falls, LuAnn (Gary) Wright of Sioux Falls, and Rachel (Loren) Bertus of Avon; ten grandchildren: Paul and wife Jimmi Van Gerpen, Hilary Van Gerpen, Michael and wife Brittany Wright, Elizabeth Wright, Rebecca, Amanda, and Sarah Wright, Jeff, Joe, and Jill Bertus; one brother: Bud Schneider and wife Mary Jo of Yankton; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding Evelyn in death are her parents, Frank and Helen Schneider, her sister, Marlene Hoch and brother-in-law Bob Hoch, brother-in-law Corky Vacknitz, sister-in-law Ruby Goering and husband Harry, and their son Kevin.