Charline Louise Evanowski

Charline Louise Evanowski (nee Sherman), of O’Fallon, MO, passed away Monday, July 8, 2024, at the age of 96. Cherished wife of the late Michael Evanowski; cherished daughter of the late Louis and Pauline Sherman. Devoted mother of Darlene Wanstal, Dennis Evanowski, Kevin Evanowski, Patrick Evanowski, and John (Cindy Byrne) Evanowski; loving grandmother of Joshua (Taylor) (treasured great-grandmother to Isaac) Adams, Dustin (Arrienne) Wanstall, and Ian Wanstall; nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceded in death by great-grandson, Isaac Adams; sister, Irene (the late Pat) Plucinski and brother, Roy Marion (the late Marcy) Sherman.

Charline graduated in 1945 from Central High School in St Louis. She loved school and was so proud that one of her instructors was a Rhodes Scholar who cared enough about education to teach at the high school level, her high school. Charline's teachers and high school classmates, in 1944-45 during the war, scraped together and all purchased War Bonds with what little money they could all contribute, and were able to purchase an LCM (Landing Craft Mechanized) for $68,000! This LCM was used for amphibious beach landings, transporting troops, tanks, vehicles and various needed supplies. She was inspired to love learning, was bilingual (Polish) and endured 4 years of Latin, proudly. She enjoyed mathematics and physics, learning about upcoming Climate Change and becoming aware of the importance of ecology, became a lover of words and enjoyed vocabulary and word puzzles up until her final days. She was ever gripping her lighted magnifying glass, bent over one of many puzzle books, and there were always a couple of dictionaries close at hand. She said every day, and always after acquiring new information “Ya learn somethin new every day” and it made life fun. “This is a beautiful world we live in” she would say as we watched Monarch Butterflies emerge from their Chrysalis each summer. Charline worked as a seamstress throughout high school and made most of the clothes for her children and learned cooking skills while preparing family meals after classes and work. Her children, family and friends enjoyed the good food…. homemade bread, mostaccioli, macaroni and cheese, potato pancakes, potato soup, and many more beloved family comfort foods. After retirement from cooking duties, she would always say that “Food always tastes better when somebody else makes it” followed by a smile and a chuckle. 

Charline married Michael Evanowski from Steger, Illinois on May 16, 1953, and they were happily married for 45 years, living on Lauderdale Drive. Each spring she would anticipate the blooms from the gorgeous 100-year-old Peony Bushes that Mike transplanted from his family farm in Steger, now family heirlooms. 

Charline loved to tell stories of her travels in Arizona, including an up-close viewing of a White Buffalo and an exciting helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon. She also visited Cape Canaveral in Florida and watched a rocket launch from Cocoa Beach. 

Always pleasant, kindhearted, dignified, humble and caring…..Charline, Matriarch of the Evanowski Family will be terribly missed each and every day by those who knew and loved her. It was a pleasure. Charline was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.