WINDSOR/MADISON-Donald “Don” Lloyd Evans died peacefully at home in Oakwood Village in Madison, WI on February 12th, 2018 at the age of 91.

Don is survived by his wife, Joan (Zeier); children, Dale (Debra), Steve (Julie), Chris (Karen), James, and Richard (Jennifer); sisters Bonnie and Joyce (Hollis); grandchildren, Katie (Jonathan), Anna (David), Daniel (Jessica), Paul (Amy), Lyra, Emily, Aimee, Brandon, Sheri, John, Joseph, and Donald; great-grandchildren, Samantha, Beckham and Nathan.

Don was born on April 11th, 1926 in Kendall, WI to Lloyd and Eugenia (Berg) Evans. Before beginning his work in plastics, Don spent three years in the Navy during World War II. He was assigned to the landing ship tank (LST) crew, where one of his main duties was to operate a Higgins boat. In total, he made five landings during the war.

After he was honorably discharged in 1946, his passion for drawing and design led him to enroll in the engineering program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During this time, Don met and married Joan Zeier, whom he was married to for 69 years.

Don started his first plastics business shortly after getting married with his first office residing in the corner of a Quonset hut on his father-in-law’s farm. There, he bought his first molding machine and spent his time learning how to design parts and build molds. By 1948, Evans Plastics was born, setting the groundwork for what would eventually evolve into EVCO Plastics.

Don founded EVCO Plastics in Deforest, WI in 1964 and, for the next 53 years, he watched his company grow with the help of his sons and grandchildren. The company now operates in nine locations throughout three countries and employs over 1,200 people. Don continued to design products and secure patents for the entirety of his life and took tremendous pride in providing an innovative and secure place for all to thrive.

A visitation will be held from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 2018, at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, WINDSOR/DEFOREST CHAPEL, 6924 Lake Rd. A private family Mass will be held at St. Olaf Catholic Church, DeForest, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Don’s name to Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care at https://www.agrace.org/donate/ or the University of Wisconsin Foundation at https://secure.supportuw.org/give/. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Oakwood Village and Agrace for their thoughtful care. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Windsor/DeForest Chapel

6924 Lake Road

(608) 846-4250

Donald Evans

April 11, 1926 - February 12, 2018

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