Jay Leonard Evans, 51, passed from this life on Thursday, August 20, 2015, at home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 25, at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Altoona. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Pleasant Hill.

Jay was born on September 16, 1963, in Des Moines, Iowa to Jerry and Janet (Fitzgibbons) Evans. He was a graduate of Southeast Polk High School and the University of Northern Iowa.

Jay married Bridget Lynn Rickabaugh on March 23, 1991. He served in the US Air Force and retired from the Iowa Air National Guard in 2006. Jay served as a Deputy Sheriff with Polk County for 27 years, retiring in 2015. He was a member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine. Jay's passion was his family and friends, whether watching his kid's activities or helping someone in need. In his spare time he enjoyed Corvettes and custom building motorcycles. Throughout his career with the Sheriff's Department he made many friends through his off-duty work assignments.

Jay is survived by his wife, Bridget, his children, Jarod Evans of Des Moines, and Tyler Evans and Meredith Evans, both of Altoona; and his siblings, Jerry (Lola) Evans of Altoona, and Judi Michael of Des Moines, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Jordan Lynn Evans.

The family will receive friends from 4 - 7 p.m. Monday, August 24, at Lutheran Church of the Cross. Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Children's Hospitals . Online condolences may be sent to ilesCares.com.