Evelyn (Shellabarger) Samuels

Evelyn Samuels, 105, of Wapello, passed away on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at Wapello Specialty Care. Private services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family in memory of Evelyn.  The Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello is caring for the family.   Online condolences for the family may be sent to www.sandhfuneralservice.com. 

Evelyn Shellabarger was born on April 15, 1921, the daughter of Egebert and Magdalena (Blankenhorn) Shellabarger.  On July 26, 1941 she was united in marriage to Glen Samuels in Kahoka, Mo.  Evelyn helped her husband with the farm and raised her family and always had chickens because Glen wouldn’t eat a “store-bought” chicken.  She worked at the Winfield and Wapello Nursing Homes.  She attended the Pleasant View Church of God and the Evangelical United Brethren Church at Cairo.  Evelyn was an excellent cook, and taught a “city girl” to butcher a chicken and can green beans. She was a member of the Golden Hour Club and a longtime 4-H Leader.  She enjoyed square dancing and playing cards with neighbors, and most of all, spending time with her family.

Evelyn will be deeply missed by her children, Carlyne (Gary) Burge of North Liberty and Gary (Bonnie) Samuels of Burlington; grandchildren; Juli Thompson, Cara Brandenberg, Marc Burge, Victoria Fish, Dr. Tina Samuels and Jennifer Struve; eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; siblings, Violet Davis, Viola Foster, Harold Shellabarger and Charles Shellabarger, and Son-in-Law Gary Burge.

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