Funeral Arrangements set for Former U.S. Rep. Lane Evans

Funeral arrangements for former U.S. Rep. Lane Evans are as follows:

* Visitation will be from 12 noon-6:00 p.m. at Esterdahl Mortuary (6601-38th Avenue in Moline) on Saturday & Sunday, November 8 & 9.

* Funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 10, at Sacred Heart Church (1608-13th Street in Moline).

Former U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, who represented the 17th Congressional District from January 1983 through 2006, passed away November 5th after a long, courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Evans, who was born in 1951, graduated from Alleman High School and served in the Marines from 1969-71. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Augustana College in 1974, and earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1977.

Throughout his congressional career, he was lauded as a champion of organized labor and veterans. In 2010, the Navy Operational Support Center on Arsenal Island was officially renamed the Lane Evans Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center.

He won every one of his congressional campaigns, starting with his 1982 victory against Ken McMillan. His final win came in 2004, and he left Congress in 2006 due to Parkinson's disease.

Statements on the Passing of Lane Evans

Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement on the passing of former Congressman Lane Evans:

"I was incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of Lane Evans last night after his long battle with Parkinson's disease.  He left us far before his time, but will always be remembered for what he did for our nation's veterans and his strong advocacy for rural Americans.  It is an honor to represent the Iowa side of the Quad Cities that he called home."

Former U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, who served as Lane Evans' District Director for his entire tenure in Congress, said, "Lane was an extraordinary, ordinary man. Lane's legacy of a politics of purpose and principle will live on in the thousands of people he touched."

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said, "Illinois lost one of its kindest, most caring public servants with the passing of my friend and colleague, Lane Evans ... When I last visited him, I told him our friend Barack Obama still remembered his quiet courage as a Congressman ... Thank heavens for Lane Evans."

U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos said, "Lane Evans will be sorely missed by all those who he touched, but his legacy of service will never be forgotten."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today issued the following statement regarding the passing of former U.S. Representative Lane Evans.

"Lane Evans embodied the picture of a dedicated public servant. His commitment to protecting our servicemen and women has helped thousands of returning veterans receive the treatment and care that they deserve. As a stalwart of progressive politics in the Quad Cities, his work to boost the middle class and provide a fair shot for all has impacted countless eastern Iowans. Lane was a proud Marine and was always a gentleman. Today, Ruth and I extend our deepest condolences to Representative Evans' family, friends on this tragic loss."

CHICAGO – Nov. 6, 2014. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today issued the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Rep. Lane Evans, who represented Illinoisans in Congress for 24 years.

"Lane Evans dedicated his life to serving the people of Illinois, and I am deeply saddened by his passing.

"During his long career representing Illinois, Lane worked closely with my father in Washington. His life represents the ideal of public service. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues."

Evans, 63, had been battling Parkinson's disease. A U.S. marine who worked to help fellow servicemen affected by exposure to Agent Orange, Evans served in the 17th Congressional District of Illinois from 1982 until 2006.

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What does it take to be comfortable during retirement? Conventional wisdom calls it the 4 percent rule - withdrawing about that amount from your nest egg each year to live comfortably. And, for that, millions of Americans believe they need to stick to a job they don't like during their earning years.

"Unfortunately, the kind of money retirees want to spend each year for a comfortable lifestyle tends to be about $60,000, which means someone's nest egg would have to be $1.5 million for that rate of withdrawal to sustain for 25 years," says financial advisor Dave Lopez, a mathematics and computer science major who applies his analytical mind to solving retirement challenges.

"Of course, there are additional sources of income during retirement, such as social security, but the program may not survive the coming decades. And, there are additional costs of retirement, including legacy interests and the likelihood of needing long-term medical care."

The fact is that millions of retirees simply do not have or will not have the kind of income they'd like to have during retirement. Lopez, founder of ILG Financial, LLC (www.theilg.com), discusses an alternative approach to the golden, or distribution years.

•  Remember, Social Security is a welfare program. Before President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935, seniors worked. America was an agrarian culture, and many who were in their 60s and 70s usually continued duties on the family farm, albeit handling lighter tasks. Social Security is essentially a Socialist idea. A response to the Great Depression, its purpose was to move out older workers in favor of employing younger Americans, but times have changed.

•  You don't have to remain stuck in your "earning" job. "The U.S. government is the biggest employer in the world, and I work with many of its employees," he says. "They usually have high-stress jobs and usually want to retire as early as possible and, while leaning on their pension, start working on their own terms as government contractors."

•  Consider retiring early and working the job you've always wanted. The model frequently followed by retired government workers can be replicated by millions of other retirees. You don't need a $1.5 million nest egg when you combine Social Security with a smaller withdrawal amount and a fun job earning $20,000 a year. Retirees can be creative in how they earn this "fun money."

"Let's say your passion is water skiing - why not parlay this hobby into a career?" Lopez says. "You'll likely have decades of experience and plenty of contacts. You might work for a ski shop or create a small business giving lessons. Doing something you love is a great way to stay active as an older person."

•  No pension? - Create your own. The days of working 30 years for a single company and collecting a sizeable pension are mostly over. This means retirees need to get creative and rely on other sources of income, including IRAs and strategies for annuities - effectively creating their own "pension." Annuities are contracts with insurance companies. The contracts, which can be funded with either a lump sum or through regular payments, are designed as financial vehicles for retirement purposes. The money used to fund the contract grows tax-deferred. Unlike other tax advantaged retirement programs, there are no contribution limits on annuities.

"Annuities provide plenty of opportunity," he says. "Of course, creative options also yield the risk of complexity. You'll want to be sure to know what you're doing, or at least consult with an accredited professional."

•  Consider lifestyle changes. Through the distribution years, you should consider moving to a place where the cost of living is cheaper than major metropolitan areas. Simply put, you'll want your money to go further. Take a play from younger folks who are cutting their cable in favor of only Wi-Fi access. Learn how to cook delicious meals on a budget. For many, learning how to make one's money work better for them, rather than working for their money, is a preferable lifestyle.

About Dave Lopez

Dave Lopez is the founder of ILG Financial, LLC and has been working with individuals and businesses in the Northern Virginia area since 1986. He specializes in strategies that enable his clients to potentially build a retirement nest egg that they can rely on and can never outlive. Lopez has his Bachelors of Science degree from James Madison University with a major in mathematics and computer science. He is an investment advisor representative of AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment advisor.

no dumb questions will be shown at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities (UUCQC) at 7:00 pm on Friday, November 7, 2014. This documentary film will educate and spark dialogue about transgendered identity, human acceptance and love.

Uncle Bill is becoming a woman and his 6, 9 and 11 year old nieces are struggling to understand why and how. With just weeks until Uncle Bill's first visit as Aunt Barbara, the sisters navigate the complex territories of anatomy, sexuality, personality, gender and fashion. Their reactions are funny, touching and distinctly different. The film offers a fresh perspective on a complex situation from a family that insists there are no dumb questions.

The film runs 25 minutes and will be followed by a panel discussion.

This free event is sponsored by the UUCQC Social Justice team as part of the congregation's First Friday film series.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities

"We mourn the loss today of a giant among our nation's Mayors, Tom Menino.

"As Boston's longest-serving Mayor, Tom transformed the skyline and waterfront, turned an aging city into a green community and was a tireless advocate for affordable housing and education. As co-founder of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, he became a national voice on keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. This son of a factory worker fostered innovation Downtown while growing healthy neighborhoods.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Angela, their children and grandchildren and the people of Boston."

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