Evangelin Marie Bass was born November 5, 1924 in Pocahontas County, Iowa to Anton O. and Emma M. (Englert) Wagner. She was baptized on November 9, 1924 by Rev. J.M. Auliffe and confirmed at St. Columbkille in Varina, Iowa. She grew up on a farm near Pocahontas, Iowa and graduated from high school. On September 12, 1944, Evangelin was united in marriage to Calvin A. Bass in Madison, Wisconsin at the Truax Air Base. This union was blessed with more than 49 years of marriage. They lived in Boca Raton, Florida from 1944 to 1945 before returning to farm in Havelock, Iowa. In 1950, they moved to a farm near Mapleton, Minnesota and in 1960, they moved to a farm near Murdock, Minnesota. In 1966, they moved into Murdock for a few years and then to a farm north of Murdock, where they lived until 1986. They moved back into Murdock and lived there until 1996, when Evangelin moved to Willmar. Evangelin was a wonderful homemaker and, through the years, also worked as an Avon Representative, a Murdock City Clerk, a Swift County Assessor, and as a bookkeeper for Swift Manufacturing and the Kerkhoven Elevator. She volunteered at Sacred Heart Church, Rice Memorial Hospital, and Bethesda Care Center. She was an election judge for many years. Evangelin was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Sacred Heart Altar & Rosary Society and mission group where she was a long time member. She enjoyed dancing, horses, sewing, quilting, painting ceramics, playing cards and gardening. Evangelin passed away Sunday, February 8, 2015, at the Mille Lacs Long Term Care Facility in Onamia, Minnesota. She had attained 90 years, 3 months, and 3 days of age. She is survived by her daughters: Paulette (Richard) Collins of Spicer, MN, Pamela Bass of Sun Lakes, AZ, and Patrice (J.P. Freeman) Bass of Onamia, MN, Jim Pangrac, Tucson, AZ; grandchildren: Jeffery (Teresa) Gorres, Michelle (Craig) Benson, Jennifer (Robert) Wolk, Stacy (Warren) Johnson, Brent (Tara) Collins, Jason Gorres, Nathan (Jessi) Collins, Sean (Jessie) Collins, Erin (Justin) Stennes, and Corey Pangrac; great-grandchildren: Gabriella, John, Jeremiah, and Madelynn Gorres; Calvin, Grant and Claire Benson; Evan and Emily Wolk; Andrew, Stuart, Johanna, Simon, Paul, and Collin Johnson; Kathryn and Kristin Collins; Erika, Noah and Brianna Collins; Michael, James and Jonathan Collins; sister, Madonna Koeble of Kasson, MN; and brother, Howard (Veronica) Wagner of Rochester, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin A. Bass on October 30, 1993; daughter, Penny M. Pangrac; parents, Anton and Emma Wagner; brothers, Lowell and Raymond Wagner; and great-granddaughter, Emma Benson.
