Mary Eastman

Mary E. Eastman, 89, Beardsley, MN, passed away Saturday, June 26, 2021, in her home.

Funeral services will be Friday, July 2, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton with Minister Jim Rach officiating. Music will be provided by organist Bonnie Stotesbery and vocalist Randy Stotesbery. The service will be livestreamed on the Eggers Funeral Home Facebook page.

Burial will be in the Clinton City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Troy Paulsen, Josh Eastman, Tony Heintz, A.J. Polzin, Tanner Eastman, Levi Bartz, Ruger Eastman, Bryce Eastman, and Charlie Cardwell.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Visitation will continue Friday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Mary Elizabeth (Tarasovich) Eastman was born on February 12, 1932, in Madison, IL, to parents Michael and Anna (Demko) Tarasovich. Mary was the youngest of five children born to the couple. She attended school at St. Mary's Catholic School through the eighth grade. Mary attended and was confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Madison.

Mary worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell in Granite City, IL, until she met and married the love of her life – Bruce Eastman. Bruce and Mary met at the Green Hall, a local dance hall. Bruce was in the service and stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Bruce said that he was attracted to Mary because she was the only one drinking a Coke instead of alcohol. They were married by a justice of the peace in Granite City on June 18, 1955.

Bruce and Mary left for the farm in Minnesota right after Bruce's honorable discharge from the army. The couple lived and raised ten children during their 48 years of marriage on that farm before Bruce's death in 2002. Mary worked as a CNA at the Clinton Good Samaritan Center in Clinton, MN, for 25 years and made many friends.

After her retirement, Mary enjoyed crocheting afghans and giving them to her children and grandchildren. She liked nothing better than to have a house full of friends or family over to cook for. Every Christmas she'd bake 10's of dozens of cookies as gifts for her family. She and her sister Ann from Beardsley enjoyed spending time together, especially Sunday afternoons playing Yahtzee (with Ann winning most of the time). She also enjoyed going to Montana and Wyoming to visit her children living there. Her family was the most important thing in her life. Nothing would give her more pleasure than to have all of her family together at the Eastman reunions or for Sunday dinners.

Preceding Mary in death were her husband, Bruce; parents, Michael and Anna; son-in-law, Roger Paulsen; and four siblings: Michael, Steven, John, and Ann.

Mary is survived by her ten children: Diana (Wayne) Paulsen of Wilmot, SD, Frederick (Deb) Eastman of Richmond, VA, Gregory (Becky) Eastman of Chokio, MN, Debra Eastman, of Beardsley, MN, Janice (Brad) Polzin of Chinook, MT, Marsha (Dan) Heintz of Pine Bluffs, WY, Brian (D'Nette) Eastman of Pine Bluffs, WY, Gary (Valerie) Eastman of Pine Bluffs, WY, Terry (Jackie) Eastman of Browns Valley, MN, and Tina (Brad) Bartz of Sisseton, SD; sister-in-law, Dolores "Tooty" Eastman of Graceville, MN; good friend, Betty Stielow of Graceville, MN; and numerous grand, great-grand, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.