Virginia Eastman

 Virginia M. Eastman, age 94, died on  Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at Orchard Manor Nursing Home, rural Lancaster. She was born on March 14, 1915, in Neillsville, the daughter of Frank and Velda (Heyder) Anderson. She moved to  River Falls as a child and later, in 1928, moved to Hammond where she graduated from high school in 1932.  Virginia graduated from River  Falls State Teachers College, now known as University of Wisconsin River Falls. Upon receiving her Bachelors of Education degree in 1936, she accepted a position in the public schools of Mellen, to teach English and History. In 1938, she moved to  Lancaster and taught Junior High School English. In 1940, she was united in marriage to LeRoy Eastman and they were married for twenty-nine years. Mr. Eastman died in 1969. Music was her passion and she pursued voice and piano throughout her life. She studied piano with Sister Anna Rose of St. Clements for nine years, graduating from the course accredited by Alverno College of Milwaukee.  Virginia then continued her music education with Dr. Leo Steffens at the UW Madison. She led the Congregational Church Choir for thirty-seven years and taught voice and piano in her home for over fifty years. She also directed music festivals for the Lancaster Lucky Clovers 4-H group. Virginia had been a member of PEO for over sixty years and enjoyed participating in community volunteerism.

Virginia leaves the following to mourn her loss: a son, Dr. Michael (Carol) Eastman, El Paso, TX and Flagstaff, AZ; a daughter, Nancy Eastman, Lenox, MA; three grandsons: Rev. Brian (Amelia) Eastman, Dayton, OH; Dr. Nathaniel (Kristine) Eastman, Anchorage, Alaska; Dr. Michael (Michelle Manning) Elihu Eastman, Madison; two step grandsons: Kirk Oden, San Antonio, TX; Cameron Oden, Plantation, FL and two great-grandchildren: Erica and Kevin Eastman.

In addition to her parents and her husband,  Virginia was preceded in death by one son, Rev. Charles Eastman and a brother, Douglas Anderson.

Memorial services were held on  Friday, May 22, 2009, at  1:00 p.m. at the Congregational Church in  Lancaster with Rev. Mark Dieter officiating. Private Family Burial was in Hillside  Cemetery, Lancaster. Friends called on Friday, May 22, 2009, from 12:00 p.m. until time of services at the church. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials may be sent to:  University of Wisconsin River Falls Foundation, % Kimberly Gould Speckman,  410 S. 3^rd Street, River Falls,  WI, 54022 for the Virginia M Eastman Music Scholarship Fund. Schwartz Funeral Home in  Lancaster is assisting the family.