Evie Augustadt Obituary

Evie Augustadt, 94, was born on May 22, 1931, in Waukegan, Illinois, to Signe-Marie and Richard Augustadt. From the beginning, her life carried both tenderness and loss. She was the youngest of two children, and when her older sister died at the age of nine, Evie grew up as an only child, shaped early by absence and longing. That early loss became a quiet compass for the rest of her life, guiding her toward connection, community, and love in all its forms.

Evie spent her life building the family she once feared losing. She had a remarkable gift for bringing people together, opening her heart, and creating spaces where others felt welcome and valued. Friends became family. Family became expansive. Her home, wherever it was, carried the warmth of belonging.

One of the ways Evie expressed love most fully was through baking. It was her language of care and comfort, her way of saying "I'm thinking of you." Baking was also her therapy, a steady ritual that grounded her. Family and friends could count on surprise drop-bys, often the result of one of her long, spontaneous drives, with baked goods delivered at the door and love left behind without ceremony.

At the age of 21, Evie married Carl Quadracci. During their 25-year marriage, she raised seven children, a role she embraced with resilience, devotion, and tireless love. Motherhood shaped her deeply, and she gave herself fully to the work of nurturing, guiding, and holding together a large and lively family.

Later in life, Evie met Kathy Howenstine in Racine, Wisconsin. What followed was what would become a marriage that would define the next 49 years of her life. Together, Evie and Kathy built a life rooted in devotion, shared values, humor, and deep mutual care. Their love was steady and enduring, marked by daily acts of kindness and unwavering presence. Kathy became Evie's chosen family, her partner, and her greatest love.

In addition to raising seven children, Evie maintained a rich working life reflecting her adaptability, determination, and lifelong desire to stay connected to people. She began her career as an operator for Western Publishing in Racine, Wisconsin, where she met her husband, Carl. Once married, she became integral to their joint business, Quad Sales, working alongside him. Following their separation, Evie moved to Boulder in 1977 and became one of only two operators at The Daily Camera newspaper, a role that suited her steady presence and clear voice.

Never content to stop learning, Evie returned to school at the University of Colorado - Boulder, earning her bachelor's degree in Speech Therapy at the age of 50. After graduating, she became a valued member of the Center for People with Disabilities in Boulder, where her patience and compassion left a lasting impact. She later served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the YWCA in Boulder, once again creating connection and community wherever she went.

In 1985, Evie and Kathy started a residential cleaning business called The Daisies, quickly earning a loyal following drawn to their reliability, care, and warmth. In 1988, the two moved to Estes Park to pursue a shared dream of opening a bookstore and coffee house. Though that dream was derailed by a serious car accident that changed the course of their lives, it never diminished Evie's spirit or her devotion to Kathy. They returned to Boulder, closer to family, and continued building a meaningful life together.

In her retirement years, Evie leaned fully into the joys of connection. She cherished time with friends and family, loved playing Mahjong, delighted in splitting meals with Kathy at their favorite restaurants nearly every day, and continued her tradition of long, unplanned drives through Colorado and New Mexico, often with baked goods along for the ride.

Evie is survived by family members Jeffrey Lindh (husband, William), Jay Quadracci (wife, Kristin), and Jodi Marino(husband, George); daughters-in-law Donna Quadracci and Carol Quadracci; her grandchildren Nia Quadracci, Stiano Quadracci, Tony Caravella, Matthew Marino, Sarah Marino, Rachel Marino, Alyssa Quadracci, Brea Quadracci, Garet Quadracci, Jenna Quadracci, Terra Killing beck, Paul Rabehl, and Remy Clarke; and extended family members Catherine Burns, Ernie Buford, Seamus Buford, Evie-MaeBuford, Ricia Reilly, Kathy McRea, Genesis Campbell, and Treyson Stoner.

She was preceded in death by her wife, Kathy Howenstine, and her children James Quadracci, Jeri Caravella (née Quadracci), Joel Quadracci, and Jon Quadracci. Evie will be remembered for her warmth, her ability to gather people close, and her enduring belief that no one should feel alone. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched, the family she built, and the love she gave so freely across nearly a century.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Evie's memory to Our Center in Longmont, an organization committed to serving underserved members of the community, a cause that closely reflected her lifelong values.

In the spring, Evie's ashes, along with those of her wife, Kathy, will be spread in an intimate, informal ceremony by close family members, honoring a love and a life shared for nearly five decades.