Evelyn Babcock, 92, of Angelo died Saturday, May 24, 2008 at HospiceCare Center in Madison. She was born on February 25, 1916 in Bangor to Henry and Katherine (Schroeder) Ballman. She was baptized on March 26, 1916 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and confirmed on March 24, 1929. Evelyn attended school in both Bangor and Sparta and graduated from Sparta High School. On September 1, 1945, she was married to Edwin Babcock by Pastor Arthur Berg of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church.

     Evelyn and Ed spent their entire lives in his family home in the Town of Angelo. Evelyn worked at the Angelo School for many years, was a devoted member of St John’s and was active in several community organizations, including the Angelo Homemakers, Angelo 4-H Club, American Legion Auxiliary and the Angelo Coffee Klatch. She loved visiting her many friends in Angelo and Sparta, and they all had open invitations to drop in on Ed and Evelyn any time, which many often did.

     She loved to garden, was an accomplished cook and dedicated thousands of hours to caring for the 19^th-century farmhouse and property, including regularly mowing its many acres, that she and Ed shared in their 54-year marriage. She was very involved in the lives of her children and grandchildren. Evelyn attended all the milestone events in their lives and was especially proud of their achievements in school and athletics. She was especially diligent in keeping her two youngest grandsons, Todd and Charley from playing in the creek that ran from the beautiful artesian well on the Angelo farm.

     After Ed’s death in 2000, Evelyn lived with Eileen and Fred in Stoughton and Margie in Madison. They included her in many of their regular activities, which she thoroughly enjoyed, and loved spending time with their friends, especially Judy, Mary, and Judy. She also made trips to visit her grandsons at each of their homes.

     Evelyn suffered a stroke in the late morning of Thursday, May 22. After spending a day at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, she was transferred to HospiceCare of Madison. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Saturday, May 24.

     She is survived by two daughters, Margie Weigle of Madison, WI, Eileen (Fred) Shoemaker of Stoughton, WI; daughter-in-law, Jean Babcock of Rosemount, MN; grandsons, Scott (Dawn) Shoemaker of Sun Prairie, Zeke (Mindi) Babcock of Farmington, MN, Charley Babcock of Prescott, and Todd (Darci) Shoemaker of Plymouth, MN; great grandchildren, Alyssa, Evelyn, Zachary, and Zoey; two sisters-in-law, Yvonne Ballman of Sparta, Beverley Ballman of Sparta, and many other family members, and friends.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edwin on December 16, 2000; a son, James Babcock; two brothers, Herbert Ballman and LaVerne Ballman.

     Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Sparta with Reverend Mark Wessel officiating. Burial will be in St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Cemetery.

     Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until the time of services.

     Memorials may be given to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, The Macular Degeneration Foundation at eyesight.org, or HospiceCare of Madison.

    The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.