Evan Brown Crumbaker

Evan Brown Crumbaker, 91, of Wamego, Kansas, passed away Saturday, February 8, 2014 at Valley Vista Good Samaritan Society. Evan was born September 18, 1922 in Onaga, KS, the son of Charles Andrew and Adda Belle (Brown) Crumbaker. He attended Onaga Schools and graduated high school in 1940. He was united in marriage to Blanche Irene Burris in Manhattan, KS on May 28, 1944. They made their home on a farm near Belvue, KS, where they lived from 1945 until 1978, when they moved to Wamego. Blanche preceded Evan in death on April 12, 2003. Evan’s work always involved agriculture. He worked at the Kansas State University Agronomy Farm from 1940 – 1943 before working on his own farm from 1944 – 1973. From 1973 until 1985, he worked at Kansas State Artificial Breeding Unit until retiring. In 1951, Evan was the recipient of the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce District Award for Balanced Farming and Farm Living. He was a past member of the Belvue United Methodist Church, a member of the Louisville Methodist Church, the Belvue Lions Club, and sang in the Belvue Men’s Chorus. Music was important to him. He enjoyed family sing-alongs, led the church chorus, and enjoyed singing at his Grandview Suites residence. Evan also enjoyed tending to the flowers at Grandview Suites for many years, especially the Moonflowers. His family was the most important part of his life, following his kids and grandkids activities, sports and 4-H. Evan was a friend to everyone, never meeting a stranger. He is survived by three children: Charles Crumbaker (Carole), Salina, KS, Karen Streeter (Brad), Manhattan, KS, David Crumbaker (Rebecca), Beloit, KS; six sisters: Frances Moyer, Manhattan, KS, Nada McCool, Wamego, KS, Ardath Murray, Bartlesville, OK, Roberta “Bobbie” Peters, Overland Park, KS, Carol Adolph, Manhattan, KS, Marjorie Knorr, Gardner, KS; 9 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by a son, Dale Allen Crumbaker; a daughter in-law, Rebecca Sipes Crumbaker; two brothers, Dale and Don Crumbaker and two sisters, Helen Dent and Dorothy Shandy. Funeral services for Mr. Crumbaker will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2014 at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego. Burial will follow in the Sunset Cemetery of Manhattan. He will lie in-state at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 p.m. Friday, where the family will greet friends during a visitation from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Louisville Methodist Church, Valley Vista Good Samaritan Society, or PRN Homecare & Hospice and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home, Wamego, KS, PO Box 48, 66547.