Evelyn Audrey Kautz

Evelyn Audrey Kautz, 98, of Sterling, CO passed away Thursday, February 12, 2026, in Sterling, CO. Viewing and visitation with the family will be held from 4-7 p.m., Friday, February 20 at Halouska Family Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, 443 S. 2nd St., Sterling, CO. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 21 at First English Lutheran Church at 701 Fairhurst St., Sterling, CO, with Rev. Richard von Steinman as officiant. She will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery.

Evelyn was born on December 25, 1927, in Sterling, CO to John Keil Sr. and Catherine Schuppe Keil. She graduated from Crook High School in Crook. CO in 1946. She married Harold Milton Kautz on December 14, 1947. As the years rolled by Evelyn spent her spare time working and helping her husband on the farm, raising many different crops. She was in charge of the daily chores of milking their dairy cows.

In preparing for the holidays, Evelyn would occasionally sew clothing for the girls. She was an exceptional cook and baker, especially her breads, pies and German food. As a member of the Faith English Lutheran Church of Crook, Evelyn and her friends sold hamburgers and grebbel at the local fairs, sharing the proceeds with their church. Evelyn enjoyed embroidering and sold many sets of Tea Towels both locally and from a small coffee shop in Paxton, NE.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, John Keil Sr and Catherine Schuppe Keil; husband, Harold Milton Kautz; siblings, William & Betty Keil, Alfreda & Reiny Nein and Albert Luft and son-in-law, Clair Orr.

Evelyn is survived by her sister, Loretta Luft and brother, John (Linda) Keil Jr.; 3 daughters, Sherryl (Rex) Clevenger, Imperial, NE, Deborah Orr (John Patterson), Kersey, CO, Shawna (Joe) Roche, Sterling, CO; 8 grandchildren filled her home: Kelly (Christine) Clevenger, Tori (Cory) Holm, Robyn Clevenger, Tonya (Kyle) Perez, Kaycee (Jason) Hoffman, Katie (Coy) Egbert, Michael Roche, Jordan R. (Kailan Kalina) Roche; 21 great grandchildren, Jace (Kaylee) Clevenger, Kobe, Joee (Tysen Lempke) and Kole Clevenger, Caden (Aspen Riesberg), Audrey, Chase and Addison Holm, Gannon (Tatum) Clevenger, Gabriel Lange, Eli Brown, Peyton and Libby Perez, Haxton, Kennedy and Hayden Hoffman, Kingston, Crew and Lexi Egbert, Jordan S. Roche, Logan Roche and one great-great grandchild; Renner Clevenger.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Evelyn’s memory to First English Lutheran Church, 701 Fairhurst St., Sterling, CO 80751.