Charles S. Evenson
March 21, 1933 ~ June 22, 2022
Charles S. Evenson, retired auctioneer and rancher, died Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Memorial Service will be at 10:00 am, Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Graveside Service will follow at 2:00 pm, Greenwood Cemetery, 7th St. & Miracle Rd., Eureka, KS.
Charles was born in Eureka, KS on March 21, 1933 and was reared in the Greenwood County Oilfields. He graduated from Eureka High School in 1950 and started working in the oil fields on rotary rigs as well as cable tools.
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953, Charles served in Korea and was discharged in 1955. He then went on work for Liberty Oilwell Cementing operating a pump truck until December 1955. At that time, he went to work for Cessna Aircraft on second shift and started college in January 1956 at Wichita University. He worked 40 hours a week for the next 2.5 years and went full time to the university, graduating in 1959, with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Charles married Emma Jean Boes on February 4, 1956.
Charles was hired on campus by Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation in the Supply Division and started work with them in July 1959 in Oklahoma City. During the next year he also served in Tulsa as well as Pittsburg, PA.
He left Jones & Laughlin and joined the Dupont company in July 1960 and spent the next 5 years working in Kansas and parts of Nebraska and Oklahoma.
In July 1965 he attended Missouri Auction School and started Evenson Auctioneers, conducting his first sale in September 1965. He spent the next 10 years selling business, industrial plants, heavy equipment, as well as oilfield equipment.
Evenson held their first Oil & Gas Production Auction in August 1975 and averaged 5 or 6 sales annually of Oil & Gas properties throughout the Midwest since that time.
Charles served on several boards throughout his career including KIOGA, WSU Alumni, Kansas Junior Livestock Show, Music Theatre, Wichita Crime Commission, and also served the Crime Commission as President 1995-1996. He was a lifetime member of the WSU Presidents Club.
During his career, Charles conducted many charity auctions, including 22 years selling Grand Champions at the Kansas Junior Livestock Show. He conducted the first few zoo auctions and the first 7 years of the Wichita State University Auction. Other charity auctions included Music Theater and various churches and local organizations.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Emma Jean.
Charles is survived by his sons, Mark (Janis) Evenson of Wichita, Mike Evenson of Halstead, KS; friend, Anita Oberwortmann of Wichita; grandsons, Rusty and Jake; granddaughter, Rylie.
Memorials have been established with: VFW Post 2712, 112 W. 2nd St., Eureka, KS 67045; and The Lord's Diner, 520 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214.
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Charlie was one of a kind. They don’t make men like that anymore.
Charlie and I became friends when we were in grade school at Burkett School in 1938 and remained friends all through the years. He was a true friend and I will greatly miss him. Goodbye my friend. John Andrew
Mike My thoughts and prayers with you and your family.God Bless Mr.Evenson
Rest Charles, until you hear at dawn, the low, clear reveille of God. Thank you for your service to this nation. U.S. Army.
I was saddened to learn of Charlies passing. He was a great person and an excellent business man. I first met Charlie around 1970 soon after he started Evenson Auctioneers. and I owned Office Aide Inc which was (and still is) is a direct mail advertising service. Charlie became one of our best customers. I also got to meet and work with his wife Jean. His sons were often with him in the summers when school was out. They learned the Auctioneering profession inside and out from Charlie. He was a fine person with impeccable ethics and honesty. He will be missed.
So sorry to hear of the loss of Charles. He lived a long good life. I’m Leona Stroud’s middle daughter and when we’d come to visit mom in Wichita, he would stop by. He had the BEST stories, we would laugh for hours. We’d call him Uncle Charlie, don’t remember how he was related, I think he was mom’s cousin. He will be missed. Brenda Stroud Robinson Tucson, AZ
I met Charlie some eight years ago at the Candle Club. There was a group of people who attended the early happy hour and Charlie invited me to sit with the group and introduced me to all. Made a lot of friends from that meeting. Inclusions my Commercial Real Estate Broker and many more. Charles was a Grand man the salt of the earth larder than life. He will be missed by many including me.
Very sad to learn of Charlie’s passing. George and I have so many fond memories kicking back, chatting and laughing with him at The Candle Club. Our condolences to the Evenson family and all who knew and loved him. -Katie Furney