LaRue Evans

LaRue Evans was a hard-working man who loved the outdoors. He had a sincere passion for giving his personal best to whatever he set his mind on doing and lived each day to the fullest. With a troubled past, LaRue was making connections with his family and had found a renewed sense of hope. Gone too soon, he will be missed by his loving family and special friends.

The year 1957 was when LaRue’s story began. It was a time marked by the many talents of professional sports figures, musicians, and movie stars such as Mickey Mantle, Elvis Presley, and James Dean. Families still huddled around television sets to catch the latest westerns such as Gunsmoke or anything featuring Lucille Ball. On January 17th in Hammond, Indiana, Robert and Edna Evans welcomed home their baby boy, LaRue. Joining his older sister, Deb, his birth brought much joy to the family home.

By the time he was a toddler, the family moved from Indiana to Tuscon, Arizona. Growing up in the southwest area, LaRue enjoyed exploring the desert and fell in love with snakes. His family had a pony and some chickens on their property. By 1966, the family relocated to the Chicago area. Here, LaRue enjoyed playing in the winter snow. Missouri was the next stop for the family where he attended middle school. In 1973, when LaRue was the age of sixteen, he left home to move into his sister and brother-in-law’s home in Cedar Springs, Michigan. LaRue worked on a local farm and oil fields in Midland before later moving back to Missouri. During these years, he enjoyed exploring the caves and old mines in the area. LaRue fell in love with his first wife, Diana and they started a family of three wonderful children; LaRue Jr, Kyle, and Heather. Later, their marriage ended.

With a strong desire to explore more of the south, LaRue moved to Texas to work in the oil fields. In addition to the oil fields, he landed a job as a tree trimmer in Houston. He moved back to Michigan where he met his second wife, Becky. The two of them had two boys, Gerrett and Victor. To support his family, he continued to do tree work as he enjoyed working outside. Throughout these years, his marriage ended.

In 2014, he was released from jail. Bouncing from house to house and program to program, LaRue strained to maintain friendships and lacked a sense of purpose. His body started to show signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Struggling in and out of recovery, he fell into deeper despair.

In 2019, LaRue decided to get his life in order. Luckily, he found a good therapist who helped him put pieces of his life together. He had many questions about science and faith so he started visiting with Pastor Joy Bonnema from Madison Church North Campus in Grand Rapids. On January 19, 2020, he accepted the Lord as his Savior and was baptized. Blessed with a new foundation in his faith life, he started seeking forgiveness and reconciliation from his family and his past. Pastor Joy was instrumental in helping LaRue secure stable housing. Recently, he was living in a home with an upstairs apartment. The landlady Mary was a blessing to LaRue and helped him with the cost of rent. A gracious woman, Cheryl Guikema, lived in the apartment above him and they became good friends. She helped him manage his medical needs and provided endless support. Over time, they enjoyed fishing, listening to music, and driving around the area together. Both animal lovers, he and Cheryl adopted a dog to share as a companion, they also enjoyed raising chickens as their home together. They had a very supportive friendship. There wasn’t anything they wouldn’t do for one another.

After thirty years of not seeing his children LaRue and Cheryl traveled to visit LaRue Jr, Kyle, and Heather. LaRue's children were always very special to him, they would call to check in and LaRue Jr. even made it a point to come to Michigan to visit with his family. Everyone was working hard to mend this relationship. Kyle was planning to travel to Michigan this summer to see LaRue and Cheryl. LaRue wanted nothing more than the very best for his children. Unfortunately, his health issues increased and he is gone. Described as a genuine person to know and to love, LaRue leaves behind a remarkable story of recovery and reconciliation. May his loved ones always know that he was searching for direction and happiness and counted his family as the reason to keep going. May his perseverance, resilience, and faith be examples of hope and peace for those he left behind.

LaRue Evans of Grand Rapids MI, passed from this earth into the arms of his loving and forgiving Father on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, after being involved in an accident. LaRue was preceded in death by his parents. LaRue is survived by his very good friend and love Cheryl Guikema, his children LaRue Jr, Kyle, Heather, Garrett and Victor Evans, as well as his grandchildren and his sister Deb (Mike) Lehman. LaRue was an important part of Madison Church North Campus and leaves behind many friends there included Pastor Joy Bonnema.

LaRue will be well known for his love of the outdoors and trees; he spent many years working as a tree trimmer and in the oilfields. LaRue had a very loving and caring soul and has touched many over the years.

In connection with LaRue’s and his family’s wishes, cremation has taken place. LaRue’s family will meet on Friday, January 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Madison Church North Campus, 750 Eastern Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, for a time to remember him and mourn his passing, a time of fellowship will take place following this service. To sign LaRue’s guest book, leave a memory, or share a picture please visit www.heritagelifestory.com