After a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, former QC Congressman Lane Evans passed away at age 63. President Barack Obama called him “a dear friend,” and one of his earliest supporters.
Evans was elected into Congress in 1982 and spent more than 20 years serving the people of Illinois.
Reminiscing about Evans, his former campaign manager Doug House described him as a lawyer who “loved Congress,” loved working with people, was a fan of the Beatles, and a supporter of Barack Obama.
“Lane was the first Congressman downstate to endorse the President in his run for U.S. Senate,” House said.
That support continued when Obama ran for President. Evans was there on Election night 2008 where the President-elect told Evans he “owed him” for all of his early support back in the day.
The two re-connected again in 2011 during a campaign stop at Alcoa.
After learning of Evans’ passing, the White House Press Secretary released this statement from President Obama:
“Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Congressman Lane Evans. Lane was a proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, and dedicated much of his public life to helping his fellow veterans, particularly those who fought in Vietnam and were exposed to Agent Orange. Lane was one of my earliest supporters when I ran for the Senate, and I was proud to have him by my side when I when I was elected President. Above all, Lane was an American hero, a dear friend and a beloved public servant of the people of Illinois. Michelle and I extend our thoughts and prayers to Lane’s family and friends, and the people he represented in Congress who loved him so dearly.”
Funeral services for Lane Evans are set at ten o’clock Monday morning at Sacred Heart Church in Moline. Visitation will be held this Saturday and Sunday at Esterdahl Mortuary in Moline. Burial is at the Rock Island Arsenal Cemetery.
