Former Illinois congressman Evans dies at 63 Thu Nov 6, 2014 11:31am EST (Reuters) - Former Illinois congressman Lane Evans, who had battled Parkinson's disease for years, died late on Wednesday in East Moline, Illinois, his guardian said. He was 63. Evans, a Democrat who represented the Quad Cities in northwestern Illinois, was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 and served until 2007. Mike Malmstrom, who was on Evans staff and later served as his legal guardian, said Evans died at Hope Creek Care Center where he had been living for nearly two years. "The disease itself had come to the point that it took its toll," Malmstrom said in a telephone interview. Evans was born in Rock Island, Illinois, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1969 to 1971. He was a lawyer in private practice. Lane Evans was a true champion for veterans. He was a tireless advocate for our community and a strong leader for us in Washington," Paul Rieckhoff, chief executive of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America non-profit, said in a statement. Rieckhoff said Evans was one of the first members of Congress to take on issues like post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury in veterans. Malmstrom said funeral arrangements were pending. Reporting by David Bailey in Minneapolis; Editing by Bill Trott