Emma Marie Eastman

Emma Marie Eastman, 88, of Cedar Falls, passed away at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home of Waterloo on Monday, August 19, 2019.  She was born on May 31, 1931, in Ansbach Germany, daughter of Hugo and Carolina "Lina" (Ruecker) Birk.  Emma graduated from high school in Germany and was introduced by a friend to a U.S. Soldier stationed in the area.  On July 13, 1954, she married Neil Freeman Eastman in Schweinfurt Germany.  They moved to America and settled in Cedar Falls to be nearer Neil's large family.  Emma was a homemaker and devoted mother to their three children.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Neil; their son, Bruce Eastman; her brother, Hugo Birk; her sister, Friedl Wolf; and her special friend, Kenny Fischer.  She is survived by her daughters: Helen (Jim "Louie") Odneal of Waterloo and Heidi Hill of Minneapolis; 4 grandchildren:  Tracy (Ray) Rich, Richard Eastman, Trevor Hill and Hannah Hill; and a great-granddaughter, Courtney Rich.

Emma's Funeral Service will be at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home of Cedar Falls on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 10:30 am with an hour of visitation prior to the service.  Burial will take place at Hillside Cemetery of Cedar Falls.  Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice. Online condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com .

Emma was a strong, feisty character with a big heart who always took care of her family no matter what surprises life delivered.  She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening and was a great cook who enjoyed preparing traditional holiday dinners.  Emma enjoyed crafts and could cross stitch beautifully.  Most of all, she loved being a grandmother and playing with her grandchildren.  She and Neil loved one another deeply and have now begun their eternal life together.