Ronald Evenstad

Ronald E. Evenstad, 82, of Westby, died July 26, 2015. Ronald E Evenstad, 82, of Westby, Wisconsin passed away Sunday, July 26, 2015. Ron was born July 19th, 1933 to Helen (Lium) and Earl Evenstad. Ron Graduated from Westby high school in 1951, and graduated from Luther College in Decorah Iowa in 1955. He received his masters degree from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago Ill. In 1963. Ron was married to Coryl (Hendrickson) on December 29, 1956. After his first year of teaching in Holmen, WI, he joined the United States Army and was in the Army Band for 2 years at Ft. Chafee, Arkansas. Ron was recruited to be the band director at Boscobel, WI where he taught from 1958 to 1963. He later held positions as band director in Wausau, WI (1963-1969), Tucson Arizona (1969-1975), West Allis, Wisconsin (1975-1976) and finally, Westby Wisconsin (1976-1994). 37 years of teaching held many rewarding experiences, including taking his band from Tucson, AZ to the first International Band Festival in Vienna, Austria. This trip took the band to Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and Holland. While in Westby he took the band to Orlando Florida on two different occasions (1986 and 1990) where they won 1st and 2nd place respectively in national competition. Ron received many awards as a band director, including the Carlo A. Sperati award. He inspired many students and was proud to have his former students, Monte Dunnum and Kory Dahlen continue his legacy in the Westby School District. Ron was also an avid outdoorsman, active leader in the church choir, sang in the Westby Mens quartet and was a talented landscape artist. Ron is survived by his wife of 58 years, Coryl; four daughters: Alisa (Mark) Johnson Westby, Julie (Steve) Carrell Tucson AZ, Wendy (Rodney) Johnson Coon Valley, Linda (Bryce) Pederson Coon Valley, and one son Tom Daniel, Westby; 8 grandchildren: Tanya (Travis Johnson) Nathan (Krista) Glunz, and Christina and Bryce (Kelly) Buckles, Derek and Heather Johnson, and Brooke and Bronson Pederson; one brother, Kenton (Mitzi) Evenstad; one sister-in-law Linda (Russell) Holte. Additionally, Ron has 5 great grandchildren, 4 nephews and 3 great nephews. In memory of Ron we ask all gifts be donations to the Westby Fine Arts Foundation or Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Please feel free to bring or send a written memory of "Mr. E" to the visitation or funeral to honor a great story teller. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church with Pastor John Dumke officiating. Burial with military rites will be at the Our Saviors Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be on Thursday, July 30, 2015 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Vosseteig Funeral Home, 708 S. Hwy 14 in Westby and one hour prior to the service at church on Friday.The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family