Evelyn H. Vondran, 100, of Dubuque, IA, formerly Galena, IL, passed away Monday, March 11, 2024, At Stonehill Health Center. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, March 18, 2024, at the Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, where friends may call after 9:30 AM until the time of service. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Galena. She was born October 8, 1923, in Kieler, WI, the daughter of Aloysius and Catherine (Dietzel) Vondran. Evelyn attended schools in Kieler and Dickeyville and eventually graduated from the Immaculate Conception Academy. She attended several colleges and received her master’s and Ph.D. from Purdue University. Over the years, she taught school in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana and served as a principal for a short time. Evelyn retired from Keystone Area Education Agency. She enjoyed genealogy and went to Germany to study it. Evelyn enjoyed wintering in Arizona, playing cards, and visiting the casino. She was a member of the sisters of Saint Francis, Dubuque, from 1941 until 1967. Evelyn is survived by her sister-in-law, Doris Vondran Runde, and her nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her four sisters, Melita Vondran, Angie Mulgrew, Marie Schonhoff, and Anne Hickie; two brothers, Joseph and Jerome Vondran; her brothers-in-law, Joseph Mulgrew, Ted Schonhoff, and Thomas Hickie, and sister-in-law, Margaret Vondran. The family wishes to thank Stonehill Health Center for all the excellent care Evelyn has received over the years.
Evelyn H. Vondran
Rest in peace Evelyn. The trip we took to Texas to be with Bev when she was to have the baby has left so many memories. We had a great time and I will never forget it.
Dear Aunt Evelyn, I’m sorry I can’t be here today but I wanted to share some thoughts with every about your life as I remember you…….
My Aunt Evelyn Vondran was an amazing person and a wonderful inspiration for me growing up, admiring her drive and determination to be successful. Evelyn was one of my Mother’s younger sisters born on October 8, 1923 on a farm in Kieler, Wisconsin as one of 9 children to Aloysius Vondran and Catherine (Deitzel) Vondran. She joined the convent at the age of 16 and was a nun for approximately 25 years teaching in various elementary and secondary schools throughout Iowa, including Wahlert HS in Dubuque. Feeling restricted in her religious life to further her education, she left the convent to pursue her Masters Degree while teaching in the public school system. Upon completion of her MA degree she went on to acquire her Doctorate in Education from Purdue University where she eventually taught as well. She later worked as an Educational Consultant for the Eastern lowa Consortium before her retirement. Aunt Evelyn lived a varied and interesting life, taking flight lessons, spending time traveling, snowbirding in Arizona in the winter and even buying property in Mexico near San Felipe on the Baja Peninsula, where she and her sister Melita drove across the border to visit. Having visited her many times as a child with my parents and grandparents at numerous places she taught, inspired me to want to teach someday, which I did for nearly 50 years. She was an exceptional table tennis player who I couldn’t beat when I was a teenager. She always had fun playing cards, especially euchre, and the slots at the local casino. When she was in Sioux City/Council Bluffs, Iowa teaching, I loved the trips we took by train to visit her when I was only about 5 or 6 years old. Evelyn always said she was going to make it to 100 which she did this past October, having lived a full vibrant life here on earth, may she now live in peace in God’s heavenly kingdom.