Evelyn Grace Roll, 86, of Colfax, passed away Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. Graveside funeral services were held Friday, Aug. 21, at 10 a.m. at McKeever Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Howard Street Christian Church.
The daughter of Neal and Mary (Ver Steegt) Vander Leest, Evelyn was born Jan. 8, 1934 in rural Sully where she grew up and attended school. Feb. 15, 1953, she was united in marriage to Ronald Roll. Evelyn worked for the Colfax Schools for 15 years, retiring in 1986. She was a member of the Howard Street Christian Church.
Evelyn’s and Ron's passion was traveling the U.S. first with their seven children and many years into their retirement. They visited 48 states including extensive time in Alaska.
Evelyn enjoyed playing bingo and putting together large jigsaw puzzles. She liked listening to gospel and country music. Evelyn attended three Elvis concerts and saw several Elvis impersonators.
Every Christmas, she made a special decorated cookie for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also went “all-out” decorating the inside and outside of her house for almost every holiday, not just Christmas. Anyone who visited her or even drove by got to see her extensive gnome collection. She was always looking for another unique gnome to add to her collection. She loved her children and many grandchildren so very much and truly made so many wonderful memories with each of them they will forever cherish.
Those left to honor her memory include her children: Ed (Clysta) Roll of Newton, Debi Patrick of Pleasant Hill, Jeff (Patricia) Roll of Boone, Mike Roll of Colfax, Terry (Roxanne) Roll of Kellogg, and Tammy (Dan) Mortensen of Newton; 14 grandchildren, CJ, Jeremy, Chanda, Shannon, Sarah, Jesse, Jessica, Tracy, Ronald, James, Raymond, Megan, Heather, and Nick; 30 great-grandchildren; and her sister Helen Schmidt of Sully.
Preceding her in death were her parents, beloved husband Ronald, her son Robert, two grandchildren Christopher Danley and Crystal Danley, and 13 brothers and sisters: Geraldina, Gertrude, Cora, Walter, James, Wilma, Clifford, Lester, Dorothy, Viola, Verlan, Vernon, and Robert.
