Evelyn Oppold Lawless of Eldora and more recently Iowa Falls, passed away November 10, 2016 at Hansen Memorial Hospital in Iowa Falls, Iowa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Eldora, Iowa on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Eldora. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 14, 2016 at Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora, with a prayer service concluding the visitation at 7:00 p.m.
Evelyn was born on January 15, 1917, on the family farm near Ackley, Iowa to Robert and Gertrude (Lamm) Oppold, the oldest of eight children. She graduated from Ackley High School followed by St. Mercy Nursing School at Mason City in 1938. She was united in marriage to Harry Lawless on June 30, 1943, prior to Harry's being shipped overseas during WWII.
Evelyn will be remembered as a gracious lady of deep faith who displayed a loving, caring attitude whether it be in her nursing career, of which she took much pride, her family or her many friends (she never met a stranger). Her most enjoyable times were with Harry at her side, entertaining friends and family with a superb home cooked meal, a game of bridge, and traveling extensively. She truly cherished the many visits by family and friends in her later years and catching up on their families and activities. Evelyn knew what it meant to "listen" to others. She will be remembered especially by her grandchildren and great grandchildren for the many games of Chinese checkers and dominos, and was known to even "cheat" a little.
Besides her career as a private duty and surgical nurse, and raising a family on the farm, Evelyn was active at St. Mary's Catholic Church serving on various committees and being a part of several study groups. She was also very active with the Hardin County Chapter of the American Cancer Society serving for a period as President. In later years, she devoted time each week to reading to the residents at the Eldora nursing facilities and working at the Hardin County Blood Bank.
Evelyn is survived by four children, John (Mary) Lawless of Ankeny, Iowa, Mary Beth Richards of West Des Moines, Iowa, Maureen Belzer of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Steve Lawless of Viroqua, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law, Bev Lawless of Emily, Minnesota and her sister, Ruth Scallon of Iowa Falls. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Jay (Renea) Simpson of Olathe, KS, Lisa (Marlin) Veldkamp of Des Moines, IA, David (Corrie) Richards of Waukee, IA, Andrea (Mark) Travillian of Frisco, TX, Kathryn (Eric) Watts of Overland Park, KS, John (Sarah) Lawless of Mundelein, IL, Megan (Paul) Watts of Great Falls, MT, Francis Lawless of Sitka, AK, and Ella Lawless of Ashville, NC. She was blessed with ten great grandchildren, CJ and Amaya Veldkamp, Violet and Ophelia Richards, Max Travillian, Sophie, Brady and Mia Watts, Charlie and Kate Watts and Owen Lawless.
She was preceded in death by her husband Harry; her son, Patrick and granddaughter, Lori Richards.