Evelyn Ann Soucek

  She grew up in Southern California with her three brothers and three sisters, Stan, Jackie, Nikki, Billy, Stanley, and Judy, all first-generation American children of hard-working and grateful immigrants from war-torn Ukraine.  Evelyn and her siblings shared their parents’ close-knit community and family bond, as well as their immensely strong work ethic.  Each became successful by a unique path.  

  Through effort and dedication Evelyn earned a teaching degree from UC Santa Barbara, taught elementary school and, not long after WWII, was selected from her peers as a top candidate to teach school in Japan. While in Japan, she met and married her beloved husband, Leo. Together they forged an unbreakable union and raised, nurtured, educated, and sustained three loving children, Leanne, Leo Jr., and Steven.  

  They steadfastly remained together for 59 years before Leo’s passing. Both made extraordinary contributions to U.S. National and Allied Security through shared sacrifice and effort in direct support of the U.S. Army and security institutions.  More broadly, Evelyn and Leo’s lives were devoted to country, family, friends, faith, community, and values.  Under this bond their dear friend and doctor summarized Evelyn’s journey in context:  

  “I just read through (Leo’s) biography...I suppose I did realize what a hero he was, but I hadn’t seen it summarized in quite that way. All his actions and awards, and then the personal testimony. I can’t believe how much he did for others and his country.  It also makes me respect your mother that much more. Being an Army wife is no easy task, particularly when you have three children, and your husband is logging five years of combat duty. She is a hero as well. There aren’t many like them. . .” 

  Evelyn’s three children and six grandchildren were the lights of her life. Friends from all over the world were also deeply important to her.  With Leo and throughout her adult life she supported through charity and direct efforts Soldiers and other Service Members; adult and other literacy programs; promotion of the sciences in America; the Red Cross; the American Cancer Society, and many, many other worthy causes.  Evelyn was generous, kind, and caring, almost never met a stranger, and one’s station, background, culture, or circumstances mattered not. A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, she was truly blessed with a full life, well-lived.  

  Evelyn is survived by her three children as well as her brother Billy, sister Judy, grandchildren, and many loving nieces, nephews, and other close relatives. Donations to charities made on Evelyn’s behalf are welcome. In addition to those mentioned above, ARCS, Gary Sinise Foundation, Fisher House, Friends of the National WWII Memorial, JSSA, and AAAA were among her favorites. A life remembrance service will be announced in the coming weeks.