W. Evelyn Coughlin

1921 - 2021

W. Evelyn Coughlin July 31, 1921 - March 21, 2021. It is with deep sorrow that we prepare to say good-bye to a beautiful woman with a blessed soul. Evelyn, whose nearly 100 years of life began with her birth as the seventh child of Oliver and Ethel (Riggle) Caszatt, near the village of Winn. Shortly after, the family settled on the homestead farm on Crawford Road. It was here that Evelyn spent her childhood with two older sisters and eight brothers. Evelyn attended the Lincoln Center school through the eighth grade. Shepherd did not have busing at that time, so Evelyn was unable to attend high school. She spent that next year helping the school teacher and developed a love for teaching and learning. The following year Shepherd provided a bus and Evelyn graduated from Shepherd High School in 1940. She went on to college at what was then called Central Normal school and became a teacher. She taught kindergarten through eighth grade in a one room school house near Coleman. In 1945, after WWII, Evelyn married the man she would spend the next 57 years with, Martin Coughlin. He passed away July 30, 2002. Evelyn left the teaching profession to raise her six children, with the help of her husband. She never stopped teaching her children; unconditional love, selflessness, service to others, acceptance, patriotism and above all else, a love of God. She was a woman of great faith that sustained her during difficult times. She was also a woman of gratitude. She was grateful for her health, her home on the river and her family. She could be heard to say a thousand times, “oh kids, we are so blessed”. Evelyn loved having family gatherings with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She had a great sense of humor and could laugh at herself. Evelyn was active with the Shepherd VFW Women’s Auxiliary serving a term as president. The Auxiliary helped to provide care for veterans and their families. Her husband was a WWII veteran, her sons, Dan and Levon (Lee) are Vietnam Veterans, her grandson, Blair Veit is a Gulf War veteran. Great grandsons, Tim Ross and Justin Ellsworth served in the Iraq war with Justin making the ultimate sacrifice. Also, serving their country in uniform are her great grandsons, Austin Ross and Connor Veit As a member of St. Leo’s church in Winn, Evelyn served as a lector and was an active member of the Altar Society. She helped prepare and serve many funeral dinners for parishioners. Left to grieve are her children, Dan Coughlin, Connie (Terry) Lynch, Yvonne Coughlin (Al Frederickson), Kathy (Kevin) Darnell all of Mt. Pleasant, Lee (Connie) Coughlin of Shepherd. Evelyn leaves behind 15 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Harlan (Glenda) Caszatt, four sisters-in-law, Betty Caszatt, Dot Caszatt, Marge Bollinger, Rose Coughlin and many nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, Evelyn was preceded in death by her daughter, Brenda Veit, granddaughter, Andrea Campbell, grandson, Matthew Darnell, great grandsons, Colton Sherman, Justin Ellsworth and C.J. Ross. Her brothers, Gaylord, Vernon, Paul, Jack, Stanley, Levant and Phil Caszatt and sisters, Verdyth Hamlin and Elaine Bush also preceded her in death. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday March 27, with visitation from 3-8 Friday and one hour prior to mass at St. Vincent de Paul in Shepherd. Celebrating the mass will be Evelyn’s nephew, Father Ken Coughlin, assisted by Father Fred Kawka. Deacon Todd Lovas will preside at the Vigil Service at 7:00PM Friday evening. The funeral mass will be livestreamed on the St. Vincent Facebook page as well as their YouTube channel and will be available on the Berry Funeral Home Facebook page as well. There will also be overflow seating available in the Parish Hall as well. Donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project in Evelyn’s memory.