Evelyn (“Evie”) Louise Stanske

Evelyn (“Evie”) Louise Stanske

Iowa City

“But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,

All losses are restored and sorrows end.”

– Shakespeare, Sonnet 30

Artist, painter, sculptor, actress, mime, dancer, director, props master Evelyn (“Evie”) Louise Stanske left her loved ones on June 30, 2025.

Evie was born on February 4, 1935, in the South Bronx of New York to Paul and Frances (Rotsch) Stanske. She joined a two-year-old brother, Herbert, and completed their family. Her father, a German immigrant shoemaker, learned to run a bakery founded by Evie’s maternal grandparents the Rotschs. They owned the building with the bakery on the ground floor, Evie’s family lived in the apartment above, and the top level was occupied by tenants. Thus, from her earliest days, Evie was constantly surrounded by a large and evolving group of people – customers, acquaintances, and friends. This may have laid a foundation for her wonderful sense of humor, comedic timing, charm, and ability to talk to anyone.

Evie attended elementary school in the Bronx and celebrated high school graduation from the School of Industrial Art at E. 79th and E. 51st streets in Manhattan, a merit-based school. Immediately after graduation, Evie worked at a summer camp teaching ceramics and pottery. At camp she met the artist Virginia A. Meyers. That friendship would eventually bring Evie to Iowa.

Evie’s empathy and drive for action, caused her to leave Iowa to work as a VISTA volunteer in rural Mississippi. There she met fellow artist Judy Sutcliff.

Evie attended the University of Iowa where she majored in art, dance, and theatre. She studied pantomime under James Gousseff at the University of Iowa and was a member of UIowa Master Mimes traveling troupe.

Evie traveled to Germany, Spain, and several times to Ireland, where she once stood on the Abbey stage. Evie worked at ACT for many years, eventually retiring as a supervisor in the distribution department. Evie’s mother came to Iowa to live with her in 1982. Until this past May, Evie worked for Mercy Hospital Cafeteria delivering meals to surrounding nursing homes.

Evie’s contributions to the arts community in Iowa City are substantial. For over twenty years she was a frequent director of Young Footlighters. Evie performed in the University of Iowa Theater and Dance programs, Madrigal Dinners, Iowa City Community

Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Dreamwell Theatre, and Combined Efforts Theatre. She was a walk-on for the Hollywood film Field of Dreams. She made props, set pieces, and painted backdrops for innumerous other events. She was a founding member of the Musical Comedy Troupe and a club member of Whimsical Women of Wednesdays. Six months ago, Evie played one of her favorite characters, Charlie Chaplin, in a production with The Country School.

Evie celebrated her 90th birthday in February, with a large gathering of admiring friends. Evie is survived by her beloved niece, Charlotte Stanske. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Joseph Stanske (1957), Frances Rotsch Stanske (2001), and her brother Herbert, (May 2025). Evie leaves numerous dear friends, who will sorely miss her generous, loving, clever, warm, and kind spirit.

To celebrate Evie’s life, friends will gather from 4 PM to 7 PM on Sunday, August 24, 2025 at The Country Camp, 3418 Osage St. SW, Iowa City, IA 52240.

“To live by each other’s happiness, not each other’s misery for in this world there is room for everyone, the way of life can be free and beautiful.”

– Charlie Chaplin

Online condolences shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.