Obituary for Eugene Joseph Eastlund
Eugene “Gene” J. Eastlund, 92, of Grant, passed away March 3, 2022 at his home after a short battle with leukemia.
Gene was born in Fosston, Minnesota, to John William and Aurora Celeste (Giroux) Eastlund on March 9, 1929.
He served in the United States Army from 1948 to 1951, stationed in Germany and Korea. He graduated from Bemidji State Teachers College, and earned a masters degree from the University of River Falls, and taught English for more than 30 years in White Bear Lake.
Gene married Darlene Grove in 1959, they built a home in Grant Township and raised three children. He served on the Grant Town Board there for 18 years.
He was an active member of Community of Grace Lutheran Church for decades.
Gene loved history, fishing, genealogy and traveling. Over the years he visited 52 countries and 7 continents.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife Darlene, parents John and Aurora, and brothers Russell and Lowell. He is survived by son Greg (Kim) Eastlund, daughters Kari (Kevin) Fernandez and Lori (Darin) Haugen; grandchildren Brock and Davin Eastlund, Luke (Briana), Micah (Ali) and Niklas Fernandez, Emily, Olivia, Andrew and Audrey Haugen; great grandchildren Sophia, Oliver and Abigail Fernandez; brother-in-law Ron (Ginny) Grove; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, March 10, 2022 at Community of Grace Lutheran Church, 4000 Linden St., White Bear Lake, Minn., followed by a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Memorials preferred to Community of Grace Lutheran Church.
Gene was born in Fosston, Minnesota, to John William and Aurora Celeste (Giroux) Eastlund on March 9, 1929.
He served in the United States Army from 1948 to 1951, stationed in Germany and Korea. He graduated from Bemidji State Teachers College, and earned a masters degree from the University of River Falls, and taught English for more than 30 years in White Bear Lake.
Gene married Darlene Grove in 1959, they built a home in Grant Township and raised three children. He served on the Grant Town Board there for 18 years.
He was an active member of Community of Grace Lutheran Church for decades.
Gene loved history, fishing, genealogy and traveling. Over the years he visited 52 countries and 7 continents.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife Darlene, parents John and Aurora, and brothers Russell and Lowell. He is survived by son Greg (Kim) Eastlund, daughters Kari (Kevin) Fernandez and Lori (Darin) Haugen; grandchildren Brock and Davin Eastlund, Luke (Briana), Micah (Ali) and Niklas Fernandez, Emily, Olivia, Andrew and Audrey Haugen; great grandchildren Sophia, Oliver and Abigail Fernandez; brother-in-law Ron (Ginny) Grove; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, March 10, 2022 at Community of Grace Lutheran Church, 4000 Linden St., White Bear Lake, Minn., followed by a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Memorials preferred to Community of Grace Lutheran Church.