Chuck Evingson

Edwin "Chuck" Evingson, of Minneapolis passed away March 11, 2020, two days before CoVid19 pandemic restrictions were instituted in Minnesota. With restrictions now lifted, Chuck is being honored by family and friends with a Celebration of Life service on Sat., June 19 at 11:30am at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5960 Portland Ave. South, Richfield, MN. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Janice Evingson, daughter Connie, sons John (Kathie), Paul (JoAnn Taie), Matthew (Rebekah) Evingson and grandchildren Croix, Brook and Kyler Evingson. Preceded in death by parents Selma and Edwin (Kindred, ND), brother Rudy (Minneapolis), and sisters Katherine and Bergliot (Kindred, ND). Chuck ("Edwin Charles") was born May 2, 1929 in Kindred, North Dakota. He often touted the benefits of small town life and growing up in a tight- knit, agricultural community. As a boy, he worked in his father's general store "candling"eggs and testing fresh cream brought in by area farmers. He spoke fondly of his education at Kindred School, where he played first trumpet in the band and sang in the choir. Recruited to play in the town band at just 12 years old, he was their youngest member ever. Chuck maintained ties to his Kindred roots throughout his life, including childhood friendships dating back 85 years. Chuck's college years were spent at Concordia College (Moorhead, MN), the U of M (Twin Cities) and NDSU in Fargo, where he graduated with a degree in Engineering. While at the U of M, he was encouraged by a professor to transfer to MIT to better use his engineering and math talents. However, due to his father's ailing health at the time, he was needed at home in Kindred and instead transferred from the U of M to NDSU. He was a member of the ATO Fraternity there and maintained longtime friendships with fellow members. A student internship at Paper Calmenson Steel Co. in St. Paul led to Chuck's first job out of college, and he began his career with PaCal as a structural steel engineer in sales in Hibbing, MN. In 1964, Chuck was assigned to head Paper Calmenson's scrap steel division in Duluth, and in 1970 was named national sales manager and transferred to the company's headquarters in St. Paul, with the family making a final move to Minneapolis. After 30 years with Paper Calmenson, Chuck established Minnehaha Creek Co., a structural steel design and engineering firm. Always an early adopter of technology, he taught himself how to use Apple's first desktop computer, and later put CAD applications to use in his business. He successfully ran Minnehaha Creek Co. until 2009, retiring soon after his 80th birthday. A life-long jazz fan, Chuck's heroes were Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Woody Herman, Jack Teagarden and other jazz greats. While listening to some of his favorite recordings in his last days in the hospital, he delighted family members and hospital staff with his recognition of instrumental solo players, his recall of song lyrics and scatting along to Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues". Summers at the cabin at Lake Eshquaguma on the Iron Range were an important part of family life for over 60 years, maintaining ties to friends and early days of life on the Range. A 50-year member of Diamond Lake Lutheran Church in Mpls., Chuck was a stalwart member of the bass section in the Senior Choir and enjoyed many friendships established at the church. In lieu of flowers, Memorials can be sent to Diamond Lake Lutheran or to the Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities. Chuck had a talent for storytelling, and loved making people laugh. We miss you, Dad. Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

Tributes

Chuck Evingson

May 2, 1929 - March 11, 2020

Tributes

Chuck Evingson

May 2, 1929 - March 11, 2020

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