Daniel Evans Jr.

Daniel Evans, Jr.

Daniel "Deacon" Evans, Jr., 78, of Lake Hauto, PA, passed away peacefully at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest on Sunday, July 13, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Marcia (Smith) Evans with whom he celebrated 57 years of marriage this past June.

Born in Coaldale, Deacon was a son of the late Daniel, Sr. and Grace (DeLay) Evans. He had the distinction of being a member of the first graduating class of Panther Valley High School in 1965. Dan graduated from Penn State University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in both Biology and Chemistry. From 1977 to 2011, he worked at Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. as the Safety, Health & Environmental Manager at both the Hometown and Wilkes-Barre campuses.

Deacon was proud of his service in the United States Army. A member of PSU Army ROTC during the Vietnam era, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and ended his career as a Captain. His military assignments included Fort Belvoir, VA, helicopter training at Fort Wolters, TX, and Fort Rucker, AL, and with the 101st Airborne Air Assault (1971-1975) at Fort Campbell, KY. Following active military service, Dan was assigned to Pennsylvania National Guard Headquarters Company in Allentown from 1977 to 1984.

Deacon supported his community by serving as a board member for the Lake Hauto Club in the early 1990s. Committed to the safety of Lake Hauto, he served as an adviser to the Panther Creek Co-Gen. For several years during his career and into retirement, Dan trained as an EMT and served on the Emergency Management Team for Schuylkill County.

He also found time to coach pole vaulting at Marian Catholic High School in the 1990s and served as assistant leader for Boy Scout Troop #82 Lehighton from 2008 to 2017.

A devout Catholic, Dan served as a lector and eucharistic minister at the Lake Hauto Chapel of the former Sacred Heart Church, Nesquehoning, and, later, at Immaculate Conception Church in Jim Thorpe. He was active in local faith-adjacent service organizations including The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Alec Campbell Division, Jim Thorpe, where he was a past officer, the Knights of Columbus, Henry Baker Council, Tamaqua, and the American Legion in Coaldale.

Dan's love of music compelled his participation in The Bach and Handel Chorale of Jim Thorpe, the church choir at the Immaculate Conception Church, and at Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Lansford. He participated yearly in the county wide Zion Ecumenical Christmas Cantata. From 1989 to 1996, Deacon was a member of the Mauch Chunk Opera House Theater Group where he had numerous leading roles. For someone who claimed that he couldn't act, sing, dance or perform on stage, he spent a lot of time sharing his gifts by telling great stories, making up songs for mundane daily activities and even pulling a jig every time pork chops were served for dinner.

Fishing, boating and campfires, Penn State Football, and Aces Happy Hours with his dog Boo were among the many ways Deacon enjoyed his 47 years of living at Lake Hauto.

Surviving are his loving wife, Marcia (Smith) Evans of Nesquehoning; two devoted daughters, Kerry Palumbo and her husband Robert of Lehighton, and Coreen Weilminster and her husband Eric of Arnold, MD; one son, Daniel Evans III, of Cinnaminson, NJ; six grandchildren, Dominic Palumbo and his wife Tyra Wentz, Cara Palumbo and her partner Sam Thompson, Brooke and Braedyn Weilminster, and Addison and Daniel Evans; a sister-in-law, Marianne (Smith) Jones; and several nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews whom he loved deeply and who loved him in return. Dan was predeceased by a brother, William Thomas Evans.

The family would like to express a special thank you to the nurses and staff of the LVHC Hospice for the exceptional care and support provided to Dan and his family. Dan and Marcia have also been deeply appreciative of the love, support, generosity and kindness of friends throughout his illness.

Service: A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 180 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe with The Rev. Ronald Minner officiating. A private interment will be held at the convenience of the family. Call on Thursday from 9:30 to 11 AM in the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia, or by remembering him with a service at your place of worship. Online condolences may be made at www.zgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.