EVELYN BRAND MARCELL, MN Mrs. Evelyn Brand, a widow who will turn 92 on January 1, 2009, has been an ardent Packers fan for 54 years since she moved from Lacrosse in 1955 to Deephaven, a suburb of Minneapolis where Max McGee later lived after his retirement. Evelyn would watch each televised black and white Packers game with her four sons cheering on the team, always instructing her sons to never give up even in those games that seemed hopelessly out of reach. She retained her unwavering loyalty to the Packers even after Minnesota started its own team. Evelyn and one of her sons went to a Packers-Vikings game in 1972 at Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis, the same year the Packers won the division. They were so excited about the Packers winning that they forgot where they parked and walked the lot for some time with the temperature below freezing before finding the car! Now a resident of Marcell, Minnesota, a small town about two hours northwest of Duluth-Superior, her commitment to the Packers is even stronger. Despite living in the midst of nothing but misguided Vikings fans, Evelyn bravely maintains and proclaims her Packer loyalty – receiving friendly, though well-aimed jabs even from the pulpit of her Vikings fan pastor.In recognition of her dedication, the Marcell Community Church where she attends has even erected a sign out front especially for her: "Reserved Parking Packers Fans Only." Mrs. Brand also has a Tile in Section 38 at Lambeau Field: Evelyn Brand, Marcell, MN. She has passed on her legacy of Packers support to her sons, two of whom are Packers stockholders and have Tiles at Lambeau Field, and one is also a member of Packers Partners Club of Champions. Evelyn has also passed on her heritage of Packer support to 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
