Robert L. Evans, 87, known to most as Coach Bob Evans, 87, longtime head football coach of Mt. Pleasant Community High School, died Friday, September 14, 2012 at the Park Place Long Term Care Unit in Mt. Pleasant. A memorial celebration of life for Coach Evans will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 18 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The Reverend Herbert G. Shafer, Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church and The Rev. Gary Van Nyhuis, Associate Pastor of Faith Christian Outreach Church, will officiate. A private family committal service will precede the memorial service at the Forest Home Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 9:00 PM on Monday at the First United Methodist Church. The family will be present to receive friends from 5to 8PM Monday evening. The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant, is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.kimzeyfh.com. Robert L. Evans was born February 17, 1925 in Macon, Missouri, the son of Elmer and Anna (Blankenship) Evans. He graduated from Macon High School in 1943. On June 3, 1951 at the Christian Church in Atlanta, Missouri, Bob was united in marriage to Winifred Kimler. Bob was called to the service of his country during WW II. He was inducted into the United States Navy and served on the submarine USS Bluefish. Upon his honorable discharge, Bob returned home and entered Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University), in Kirksville, MO. He graduated with a BS degree and was conferred with a MS degree in 1950. Bob came to Mt. Pleasant High School in the fall of 1950, where he began a long career as a Physical Education instructor and coach of football and basketball. He was the varsity boys' basketball coach from 1953 to 1955, and was named the varsity football coach in 1955. Bob remained at that position until his retirement as athletic director in the spring of 1989, with a career record of 201 wins, 92 losses and 4 ties. In 1963, Coach Evans led the Mt. Pleasant Panthers to the Mythical State Football Championship with an undefeated, untied and unscored upon record. His record included 7 undefeated teams and 17 Conference Champions. His teams outscored their opponents 6,444 to 3,351 Coach Evans was the recipient of numerous awards for his noted accomplishments. He was the Des Moines Register Coach of the Year in 1959. In 1969, he was inducted into the Iowa Coaches Hall of Fame. He was the 1980 Nations High School Athletic Coaches Association District 6 Coach of the Year. He received the National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award in 1986. For 14 times, Bob was named Coach of the Year for Southeast 7 Conference. He was the Southeast Iowa District Class I Coach of the Year in 1984. In 1974, Bob served as the Assistance Coach in the Iowa Shrine Bowl and was the Head Coach in 1975. He was inducted into the Northeast Missouri State University Hall of Fame in 1988. He was one of the founders and past President of the Iowa High School Football Coaches Association. He was a charter member and Board of Directors member of the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association, and was named to their Hall of Fame in 1990. Coach Evans was a color commentator with Frosty Mitchell for the Iowa Sports Network, broadcasting the Iowa Hawkeye Football Games of Big Ten Football. On August 31, 2007, the football field at the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex was named Bob Evans Field. During his tenure as Mt. Pleasant Community Schools Athletic Director, boys sports added were baseball, golf, wrestling and cross country. Golf, cross country, track, Softball, volleyball and basketball were added as girls' sports. Bob was the Director of Development and Construction of the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex. For several years, Bob was the instructor of Drivers Education for the Mt. Pleasant Comm. School District. Outside of sports and school, Bob was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant and served on the Board of Directors for the former Henry County Savings Bank. He was a past president of the Mt. Pleasant Golf and Country Club. When time permitted, Bob was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing. Those thankful for sharing in Bob's life include his wife of 61 years, Winifred "Kim" of Mt. Pleasant; 4 sons - Charles "Chuck" Evans and his wife Susan of Unionville, MO, Stanley "Stan" Evans of Mt. Pleasant, Robert G. Evans of Seattle, WA and Spence Evans and his wife Abby of Ames, IA; 1 daughter, Kathryn Mobley and her husband Greg of Albia, IA; 6 grandchildren - Travis Evans and his wife Stacey of Indianola, Tyler Evans and his wife Alisha of Urbandale, Ariel Mobley of Albia, and Theodore, Sarah and Joseph Evans, all of Ames and 2 great granddaughters - Baylie and Paige Evans. Bobs parents and a sister, Beverly Hildebrandt precede him in death. Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to a football athletic scholarship for Mt. Pleasant Community High School to be named in Coach Evans honor.

Visitation

SEP 17. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (CDT)

First United Methodist Church 309 North Main Street Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641

Service

SEP 18. 11:00 AM (CDT)

First United Methodist Church 309 North Main Street Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641