Evelyn Van Engen

Evelyn Mae Van Engen, of Lincoln, Nebraska passed away on October 25, 2026, a month shy of her 101st birthday.

Evelyn was born on November 24, 1925, near Crab Orchard, Nebraska, to Andrew and Alberta (Powell) Buehler. An only child, she grew up on the family farm during the Great Depression.

She attended high school in Adams, Nebraska, boarding in town during the week for 50 cents, which her mother often paid for with milk and eggs. It was in school where she met Roy VanEngen. After graduating in 1943, she went on to receive her teaching certificate from Nebraska Wesleyan and then taught at the Hopewell one room schoolhouse for a year before marrying Roy on June 1,1944.

Roy and Evelyn farmed for a few years before moving to Sunnyvale, California in 1947, where Roy was a carpenter and Evelyn worked in a Libby’s fruit cannery. They moved back to Nebraska in 1951 to raise their family, living in Adams for over 4 decades before moving to Lincoln in 1998.

Throughout most of her life, you would find Evelyn in the kitchen. She loved to have company around the table. There was always time to visit over coffee and offer you a cookie or a dish of ice cream, never taking no for an answer. On Sundays, you would find her in church, playing the piano or organ, followed by a large dinner with the family.

Music was a special part of her life, as God gifted her with the ability to play by ear. You could hum a melody to her and before long her hands went up and down the keyboard knowing every chord. She especially loved the old hymns and playing carols for our family singalong at Christmas.

Evelyn’s faith in the Lord was what defined all of her days - Bible on the nightstand, sermons on the radio, and prayers beside the bed each night. Her love for God and people so evident in the love and mercy returned to her by her children, grandchildren, friends and caregivers in her final days. She was truly one of the greats of The Greatest Generation. The “ordinaryness” of her life in serving the Lord and her family is what made her extraordinary.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter Rita Metcalf, her son Mervin Van Engen and his wife LaDonna, grandchildren Amy McEwen (Ryan), Sara Hergenrader (Dave) Jason Metcalf (Nancy), Lindsey Sauer (Andrew), Haddie Webb (Lucas), and Jayden Schwarz, 13 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband Roy after 59 years of marriage, as well her parents, Andrew and Alberta (Powell) Buehler, her daughter Barbara Schwarz, and an infant brother Loren Buehler.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 1-8:00 PM at Adams United Methodist Church at 720 Ash Street in Adams, NE, with the family greeting friends from 5-6:30 PM. Interment services will take place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 9:30 AM at Highland Cemetery near Adams, with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 AM at Hope Community Church, 530 West Sanctuary Road in Lincoln. A memorial has been established to the church in her memory with the funeral home in charge.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate Evelyn's life and encourage all to leave memories and upload photos to her memorial page at www.ghchapel.com.

These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Adams.