Evelyn Kuiken

Evelyn Kuiken, 96, died at Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa, on Wednesday morning, October 2, 2013.

Evelyn Irene Bretthauer was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 20, 1916, to Rev. Alvin and Martha (Voss) Bretthauer. Her father, a Lutheran minister, moved with his family to serve various congregations in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. Evelyn graduated from Alvord High School in Alvord, Iowa, in 1934 and attended Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduating in 1937. Evelyn taught elementary school in Maurice and Elk Horn, Iowa. Evelyn married Dewey Francis Kuiken on June 24, 1941, in Cushing, Iowa. The wedding ceremony was performed by her father.

The family lived in several towns in Iowa and Nebraska before moving to Atlantic in 1957 where Evelyn has lived ever since. Dewey worked at the Atlantic State Bank until 1978. During those years Evelyn was a homemaker and mother raising five children Pat, Pam, Vicki, Cindy and Tim. Evelyn was an active member at St. Paul's Lutheran Church singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school. She was always athletic and loved playing all sports, especially golf in her later years. Dewey and Evelyn loved to travel. They toured most of the United States and many countries in Europe, enjoyed many cruises, and for many years drove their trailer to Arizona for the winter.

Evelyn is survived by her five children, Pat (Chuck) Henrikson of Madison, WI, Pam Ladd of Chicago, Vicki (Ed) Podolak of Basalt, CO, Cindy (Tom) Hayes of Manhattan, KS and Tim (Jamie) Kuiken of Fairfield; a special nephew, Dan Bretthauer; her thirteen grandchildren, Brett (Carmen) Henrikson, Alison Ladd, Thaddeus (Sharon) Ladd, Emily Podolak, Laura Podolak, Andy (Courtney) Hayes, Lindsay (Jason) Cieloha and Sarah Hayes, Kelly (Matt) Giltner, Dana (Adam) Conilogue, Kirsten Kuiken, Jennifer (Kyle) Peters and Amanda Kuiken; and her eleven great-grandchildren, Hazel, Dahlia and Arlo Henrikson, Penelope Ladd-Ungersma, Jack and Owen Hayes, Hayes Cieloha, Brett, Krista and Luca Giltner and Coen Conilogue. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Florence Bretthauer, Muriel Hop, Elaine Riphagen and Jean Intveldt. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, sister Maxine Bretthauer and brother Glenn Bretthauer.

A memorial service will be held at a future date.

Burial will be at the Atlantic Cemetery.

Memorials can be given in Evelyn's name to the Heritage House Good Samaritan Program or to St. Paul's Lutheran Church both in Atlantic, Iowa.