Lawrence “Larry” E. Eastman

EASTMAN, WHALEN, VEME, JACKSON, RALSON

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/14/2006 at 18:50:06

The Clinton Herald
Published: July 14, 2006 02:30 pm

Lawrence “Larry” E. Eastman

Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Hanover. A rosary service will be held at 7:45 p.m. during the visitation.

SERVICES: 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Hanover, with the Rev. Christopher Kuhn officiating.

HANOVER, Ill. — Lawrence “Larry” E. Eastman, 85, of Hanover, died Wednesday at his home.

Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Hanover, with military rites and an Illinois State Police Honor Guard ceremony.

He was born April 6, 1921, in Hanover to Guy and Ella Whalen Eastman. He married Mildred Arline Veme on Oct. 16, 1948, in Savanna, Ill.

He attended Matheson School, rural Hanover, and graduated from Hanover High School in 1939. He graduated from the Northwestern Police Academy.

He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, Lake Chelan, Wa., and then worked at the Savanna (Ill.) Ordnance Depot before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. During World War II, he flew 79 missions as a fighter-bomber pilot in southern Europe. His plane was shot down on two separate missions and he was awarded the Purple Heart.

He was an Illinois State policeman for 30 years before retiring as lieutenant in 1978. With his partner, Ron Petesch, he founded the Hanover Speed Wash, operating it for more than 20 years.

He was charter member and past commander of Hanover VFW Post 5300 and charter member of the Hanover Lions Club. He was a member of the Hanover Village Board and Hanover Township Library Board. He was active for many years in AARP, including serving three years as Northern Illinois district director. He was a member and past president of the Retired Illinois State Police Association and a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church where he served as a member of the finance committee and lector for many years. He also was a member of the Galena (Ill.) Elks Lodge.

Survivors include his wife; children, Judy (Paul) Jackson of Galena, Jeff (Corrinne) Eastman of Naperville, Ill., and Joann Ralson of Madison, Wis.; six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given to Freeport (Ill.) Health Network Hospice or St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in his name.

Condolences may be made at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

Death date: July 12, 2006