Robert J Everts

Robert J. Everts, 88, of Litchfield went to be with his Lord on July 7th surrounded by his family at the Meeker Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, at the Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in Lake Ripley Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Litchfield Honor Guard. Robert John Everts, the son of John and Anna (Wietzke) Everts, was born on June 1, 1924, in rural Grafton, Nebraska on the family farm. When he was young his mother died and his dad then married Lydia Koenig. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grafton. He graduated from Grafton High School in 1941 and continued his education at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE. He entered the service in August, 1943 and was sent overseas with the 70th infantry division. His military service was important to him and he was an active member and past commander of the Litchfield VFW Post 2818. He also was a member of the American Legion Nelsan-Horton Post 104 and the WW II Last Man's Club. His employment after the war included working for International Harvester as a farm equipment block man. Bob was united in marriage with Beverly Lueking on August 23, 1953 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford, NE. This union was blessed with four daughters, Kim, Lisa, Cathy and Holly. They moved to Litchfield where he started Everts Oil Company in 1956. He owned and operated that business until 1973 when he started working with Lutheran Brotherhood. He enjoyed many successful years in the insurance business and retired in 1999. Bob continued in the insurance and investment field initially partnering with Jim Danner and later Brent Brekke. He continued with Danner, Brekke and Everts until his retirement in early 2012. Since moving to Litchfield Bob was a very involved member of the community. He was an active member and past president of the Litchfield Jaycees, the Litchfield Kiwanis, the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce and the Litchfield Golf Club. He was also a member of the Litchfield School Board for 15 years, Augustana Board for 19 years, Litchfield Utilities Board, GAR Board, and was active with the Litchfield Community Chest. Bob was a longtime active member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, serving as both treasurer and president. He was an avid sports enthusiast and a longtime season ticket holder with the Gophers, Twins and Vikings. He was a staunch supporter of the Litchfield Dragons and was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for his longtime support of athletics at LHS. He was a devoted husband, father and loving Grandpa Bob to his grandchildren. He was a friend and an encouraging mentor to many in the community. Bob was one of the founding fathers of the Litchfield Watercade Festival in 1956 and poetically while this year's celebration was in full swing Bob peacefully slipped away. He is survived by his children; Kim (and Mark) Madden of Overland Park, KS, Lisa Everts of Dalbo, MN; Cathy (and Ted) Reynolds of Austin, TX and Holly (and Jim) Cottington of Litchfield, MN. Also survived by grandchildren; Alissa (and Lee) Rieth, Joshua (and Ginny) Madden, Jake, Robbie, Matt and Joey Reynolds, Zack Schmidt (and fiance Lisa Schrotberger), Levi and Anna Cottington, great grandchildren; Lucy and Owen Rieth, Tristan, Elijah and Liliana Madden and brother Carl (and Helen) Everts. Bob is also survived by in-laws Anita and Jim Peterson, Cork and Sharon Lueking, Mary Allison, Linda and John Miller, Kitty and Les VanAlstyne. He was preceded in death by his father John, mother Anna and stepmother Lydia, his wife Beverly and his sister Anita Hutchison. Memorials are preferred in his name to St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Previous Events Visitation Tuesday, July 10, 2012 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home 316 Sibley Avenue South Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church 227 South Ramsey Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:45 PM Riplely Cemetery 316 Sibley Avenue South Litchfield, MN 55355