Evelyn M. (Gerloff) Hart

Evelyn M. Hart passed away at Hearthstone Manor on Saturday, January 20, 2018, at age 94.

She was born January 3, 1924, on Seneca Ridge Farm, the family farm on Perkins Road in McHenry Co. She was the oldest of the three children born to August and Helena (Stake) Gerloff. Evelyn was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church and remained a member of St. John's her entire life. Evelyn attended Pleasant Ridge School, and was a 1941 graduate of Woodstock High School. At graduation, Evelyn received the American Legion Award based on courage, honor, service, leadership and scholarship. She also received a scholarship to Northern Illinois State Teachers College at DeKalb where she received her teaching degree in Rural Education in 1943. After graduation, she was a teacher at Reed school and then Greenwood School in Woodstock. Evelyn was united in marriage to Raymond J. Hart at St. John's on August 31, 1946. After the wedding, they moved to Streator, Illinois before returning to Woodstock to raise their family. She worked as Engineering Secretary for 27 years at Woodstock Die Casting and its predecessors until retiring in 1989. Throughout her life, she was very active at St. John's Lutheran Church serving as Sunday School teacher, in the hand bell choir, and various committees. During retirement, Evelyn enjoyed many trips with the Fun Timers, as well as a trip to England. She also attended many of the Creative Living series and summer music concerts in the city park. Evelyn was a long-time member of the Seneca Ladies Literary Society and enjoyed living at Hearthstone Manor since 2010.

Evelyn is survived by her children Daniel (Linda Proudfit) Hart of Valparaiso, IN; Sharon (Glen) Richgels of Bemidji, MN; and Sandra (John) Hallman of Rockford, IL; six grandchildren, Amber (Josh) Severson, Erin Richgels, Erik (Anna Lea) Richgels, Jason (Kristin) Hallman, Adam Hallman, and Briana (Chad Keller) Hallman; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband Ray in 1979, brother, Robert Gerloff and sister, Ruth Hemmingsen Case and parents. May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ comfort all who loved Evelyn until we are together again at our glorious resurrection. The family would like to thank the staff of Hearthstone Communities and JourneyCare Hospice for their wonderful care in her later years.

A visitation will be held Thursday, January 25, 2018, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Schneider Leucht Merwin Cooney Funeral Home. The visitation will continue on Friday, January 26, 2018 at St. John's Lutheran Church, 401 St. Johns Road, Woodstock, from 10:00 am until the 11:00 am Funeral Service.  Interment will follow in the McHenry County Memorial Park Cemetery in Woodstock.

Memorials to St. John's Lutheran Church, Hearthstone Communities or JourneyCare Hospice in lieu of flowers are appreciated.

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