Evelyn M. Kahl

Stoughton- Evelyn Mae Kahl, age 94, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Kettle Park Senior Living in Stoughton surrounded by family. She was born in the township of Vermont near Black Earth on August 12, 1928, the daughter of Emil and Lucille (Ryan) Erickson.   Evelyn was baptized and confirmed at Vermont Lutheran Church.  She attended the Beatty Rural School for 8 years and went on to graduate from Arena High School. After graduation, she attended Platteville State Teacher’s College receiving her teaching degree.  For 15 years, Evelyn taught in several rural schools in the Mt. Horeb and Black Earth area. 

On June 4, 1949, Evelyn married Verlyn Kahl; together they celebrated 63 years of marriage.  During their time together, they farmed in various locations before settling in Stoughton where they retired from farming in 1979.  She worked at Nelson Industries for 15 years (now Fleet Guard).  Following a very brief retirement, she went back to work as a beloved waitress at the Stoughton VFW officially retiring on her 85^th birthday. 

Once moving to Stoughton, she became a very active member of Christ Lutheran Church serving in various capacities including the church council and was a member of the Bethel Circle.    She was an active leader in 4-H for many years.  She was also an involved member of the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Pleasant Springs Garden Club, Sons of Norway and Stoughton Senior Center. She loved traveling, ceramics, flower gardening, scrapbooking, playing cards and volunteering at several organizations within the Stoughton Community receiving the “Volunteer of the Year” award in 2010. 

Evelyn had a fulfilling life by enjoying the little moments, spending time with family and friends and making the most out of every day.   Evelyn and Verlyn enjoyed traveling to all 50 states and many countries including Norway, Ireland, England, Switzerland, Germany and Mexico.  After the passing of her husband, she was fortunate to be able to continue to travel with family to China, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.  For several years, Evelyn and her sister Florence spent the winter months in Mississippi relaxing, gambling and sightseeing avoiding Wisconsin winter weather. 

Evelyn is survived by her children:  sons, Terry, Tom (Debra), and Todd; daughters Trudy (Randy) Smithback and Tricia (Jim) Obrecht. 6  grandchildren: Theran (Mia) Terra (Dave), Ryan (Karlie), Janna (Sean), Rachael (Andy), Stephanie (Jake), grandson-in-law, Rob Clason, 16  great grandchildren: Whitney, Lexie, Lilly, Tommy, Mackenzie, Wyatt, Aida, Avery, Liam, Davie, Oliver, Hannah, RJ, Sophie, AJ and Stella; sister, Florence Bingner; and brothers, Bud (Pat) Erickson and Frank (Lucille) Erickson; sisters-in-law Sharon Erickson and Lurlene Schultz, many nieces, nephews and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; granddaughter Torie Clason; brothers, Phil and Jim Erickson; brother and sister in laws Charlie Bingner, Gene Schultz, Oliver and Frances Kahl, LaVern and Geri Schumann.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 16, 2023, at Christ Lutheran Church, 700 County Road B, Stoughton, with Rev. Paula Geister-Jones officiating. A burial will follow in Lutheran Cemetery South. Friends and relatives are invited to a celebration of life luncheon at the Stoughton American Legion following the burial.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton, and from 10:00 AM until the time of services Friday at church. Memorials may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, Agrace Hospice, American Legion Auxiliary Stoughton (59) or VFW Auxiliary Stoughton (328).

A special thank you to all of the staff at Agrace Hospice and Kettle Park Senior Living of Stoughton. 

“God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be; So He put his arms around you and whispered, “Come With Me.” With tearful eyes we watched you suffer and saw you fade away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best!

God looked around His garden and found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face. He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best. He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb, so He closed your weary eyelids and whispered "Peace be thine".

It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn’t go alone, for part of us went with you the day God called you home.”

Please share your memories of Evelyn by posting on her Tribute Wall at: www.CressFuneralService.com.

Cress Funeral Services

206 W. Prospect Street, PO Box 231, Stoughton

(608) 873-9244