Obituary

Evelyn I. Balzer 87, died Thursday (Jan., 27, 2011) at Carriage Square in St. Joseph, Mo.

She was born on Aug. 20, 1923, in Goessel to William and Gertrude (Balzer) Schroeder. On June 17, 1945, she married Arnold A. Balzer at Tabor Church in rural Goessel, and he preceded her in death on August 10, 2007. Evelyn was a member of First Mennonite Church in Newton. She was a member of the Good Sam Club and enjoyed traveling, especially spending winters in Texas and Arizona. Family was very important to Evelyn, and she greatly looked forward to spending time with her loving family and many friends.

She is survived by daughters Bonnie Dietrich of Enterprise, Ore., Carolyn Cooper of St. Joseph, Gloria Solis of Overland Park and Diana Koeperich of Port Huron, Mich.; and one son, Francis Balzer of Colfax, Wis. Evelyn has 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, Terry Balzer, brother, Virgil Schroeder, and sister, Sylvia Schmidt.

Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Mennonite Church in Newton with Pastor Anita Kehr and Pastor Joan Boyer presiding. Burial will follow at Restlawn Gardens of Memory in rural Newton. Memorials may be left with Three Rivers Hospice in care of Petersen Funeral Home.