Cal (John Calvin) Evans
1949-2026

Salt Lake City, UT-The ducks and fish of greater Utah may be breathing a sigh of relief, but the family of Cal (John Calvin) Evans is extremely sad to announce that, while surrounded by his loving family, Cal passed away from heart complications on August 29, 2026.

Cal was born to Billee Mortimer Evans and Earl John Evans on May 24, 1949 in Salt Lake City, Utah and immediately set about living a full and remarkable life. Cal learned early on that hard work, clever work and treating people well would earn him love, laughter, and the life he strove to achieve, a life he joyfully shared with his wife and partner in crime, Ginger Rhode.

Cal generously gave his time and support to the two sisters, Patrice Steiner and Denise Jensen, who pre-deceased him. He was a devoted and loving father to his two daughters, Elizabeth (Beth) Evans Armstrong and Kathryn (Kate) Evans Dowden, who are now searching for a way to muddle through without the man who strummed the soundtrack of their lives, who would make them laugh through tears, who parented them through the unimaginable pain of losing their mother, and who gleefully shared his tips for concocting complicated and excessively buttered culinary delights. They are so grateful for the strumming and singing evenings he shared with them and Kate's husband, Brett.

Cal was so very proud of his daughters' accomplishments.

Cal's stepson, Jason Rhode, whom he considered one of his best friends, was occasionally alarmed by the 4-wheeler hijinks Cal would take Jason's mother/Cal's beloved wife Ginger, on, but Jason will forever be grateful to Cal for teaching him how to fish such that fish were actually caught, for their shared motorcycle rides, and for holding his mother's hand as they strolled in the dimming evening light to supper.

Cal is also survived by his sister, Norma Schmidt, and his much loved grandchildren, Madalyn Armstrong, and Calvin Armstrong, whose recent wedding to Annie Kendell Cal was joyfully able to attend.

A true Renaissance man, Cal had deep knowledge and skills in a breadth of arenas. Those who got to see Cal in action always said if they found themselves alone on a remote island and could choose just one person to join them, it would be Cal. A human Swiss Army knife of survival and joviality, Cal could do just about anything and do it extremely well: cooking, singing tunes (many of which were comedic Cal originals), playing guitar, fishing and boating at Bear Lake and on Lake Powell, fixing anything, carving wood, playing racquetball and so much more.

Cal's clever light shone brightly throughout his nearly 40-year career in the Jordan school district. By the time he rose from classroom assistant to classroom teacher of students with behavior problems, to Special Education Director and eventually the role of Assistant Superintendent, Cal opened paths to success for challenged young people, held short-cutters accountable, and infused the everyday experience of his co-workers with greatly appreciated sustaining levity.

Highlights of the many professional accolades Cal earned include recognition for his unselfishness and personal sacrifice in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when he dedicated enormous time and effort helping evacuee students and their families, and recognition by the Utah Council for Children with Behavior Disorders for his extraordinary dedication to students with behavior disorders. During his many year tenure as president of the Utah Council of Administrators of Special Education, he testified numerous times before Congress on behalf of students receiving special education services and their teachers.

Cal's family would like to thank the kind and devoted staff of IHC's Cardiac ICU for their compassionate and expert care, with special thanks going to Dr. James Orford, Dr. Meghan Cirulis, NP Nikki, and RN Julia.

As boisterous as he could be in life, Cal's preference was for a private Celebration of Life to be attended by a small group of close friends and family. The family requests that friends interested in attending please email rememberingcalevans@gmail.com with their name, the names of any guests and the mailing addresses for all. Event details will be shared when they are available.