Evelyn Irene Ruehmann Schlunsen, 107, of Davenport, passed away, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, at Silvercrest in Davenport. There will be no services. Her final resting place will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Runge Mortuary is assisting her family with arrangements.
Evelyn was born April 28, 1917, on a farm in Muscatine County. She was the daughter of Robert and Louisa (Bornholdt) Ruehmann and was raised on a farm in Cleona Township by her sister and brother-in-law, Alice and Leroy Hamann. She graduated from Davenport High School and was a teacher in one-room schoolhouses in Liberty and Cleona Townships until she married Elmer “Happy” W. Schlunsen on Jan. 14, 1939. After their marriage, she worked in Eldridge as a telephone switchboard operator and at the post office, and later in retail at M.L. Parker in Davenport. Evelyn also helped her husband with his Standard Oil delivery business in Scott County. She enjoyed needlework, embroidery and crewel work and was an avid Bridge and 500 player.
In 1933, when she was 16, Evelyn was honored as the 10 millionth visitor to the Chicago World’s Fair.
She and Happy spent many enjoyable years in Mesa, Ariz.
Evelyn is survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents, as well as four sisters and one brother.
Special thanks to Silvercrest Senior Living and to St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care.
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