Evelyn Pacha

Evelyn Marie Pacha, 80, of Marion, IA and formerly of Birmingham, IA, passed away on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield, IA with Father Ross Epping officiating. Burial will be in the Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in East Pleasant Plain immediately following. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield with a Rosary service to begin at 4:00 p.m. Memorial contributions in Evelyn's honor may be directed to the Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery Association. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Evelyn Marie Pacha was born August. 6, 1945 to Dale W. and Kathleen Eller Nelson. She married Stephen Richard Pacha Oct. 16, 1965, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in East Pleasant Plain, IA. Evelyn graduated from Fairfield High School with high honors in 1963. She went on to further her education at lowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant and graduated from Parsons College in Fairfield. While there she was a member of the Omicron Honor Society with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a minor in music. She also earned graduate credits toward a Master’s in elementary education language arts at the University of lowa.

Evelyn was an elementary classroom and elementary music teacher from 1970 through 1997. She taught piano, organ, and accordion lessons beginning in 1963 and continuing for over 62 years. Evelyn performed ragtime and old-time accordion music at the Midwest Old Threshers Show in Mt. Pleasant from 1976 through 1983 and was also a pianist for Chapter C PEO in Fairfield.

She combined her musical talents with her deep faith, serving as church organist and keyboard player at St. Joseph Church from 1966 through 2020, and St. Mary in Fairfield from 1997 through 2025.

Evelyn grew up on her family farm where she helped care for livestock and raise crops. Evelyn loved spending time with family and friends and enjoyed creating beaded bracelets and rosary items. She also sewed quilts and tote bags for family and friends.

Evelyn is survived by a son, John, and his wife, Angela, of Marion; sister, Patricia, and husband Ron, of Oxford, IA; four grandchildren, Clara, Caleb, Blaise, and Cooper, of Marion, two engagements, Richard Nyunt (Clara), and Autumn Heller (Caleb), and numerous nephews and nieces.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Steve, her parents, and grandparents.