Obituary of George Eastburn

George is survived by Margaret, his wife of 51 years; two daughters: Allison Margaret Heffern and husband Michael, grandson Graham Michael, granddaughter Anna Corinne all of Cedar Rapids; Andrea Binkerd Eastburn of Marion; three sons: Geoffrey LaVerne Eastburn and wife Maureen Kennedy Eastburn, granddaughter Eileen Kennedy Eastburn and grandson Jesse Bernard Eastburn; Christopher Bryant Eastburn and wife Sherri Kay Condon and granddaughter Camille Condon Eastburn, all of Cedar Rapids; Bennett Kane Eastburn and wife Sherry Crow Eastburn and four grandsons: Donovan Luther, Nicholas Kane, Elliott Taylor and Harrison Parker Eastburn of Monticello; his sister Gloria Ellen Lynch and husband Jack and brother Lloyd Donovan Eastburn and his wife Donna Lustfeldt Eastburn, all of Watseka, IL. George LaVerne Eastburn was born on Jan. 6, 1932, in Watseka, Ill., the son of Bernard LaVerne and Corinne Donovan Eastburn. George cherished his time in Watseka even as he lived 46 years in Iowa. He attended Watseka Community schools where he was involved in band, basketball and track. He graduated in 1950. George was a sixth generation Illini who came to Iowa in the fall of 1950 to attend Iowa State College in Ames. He was a three-year letterman on the track and cross-country teams. He served as cross-country team captain in 1952. He graduated with a degree in agronomy in December 1954. On Jan. 29, 1955, George and Margaret Cecile Binkerd were married at St. John's Catholic Church, Des Moines. George briefly farmed his father's land near Watseka, Ill., before moving to Monticello in 1960 to open and manage a branch office of Me-Jon Fertilizer. He later joined Equitable Life of New York, becoming a Chartered Life Underwriter and Financial Consultant. More recently, George owned and was broker for HCH Real Estate. Additionally he was an investment representative for Heartland Investment Associates of Cedar Rapids. George led an active life. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello. George was a longtime Monticello City Council member. He also served on the Jones County Compensation Board and the Iowa League of Municipalities. George was the organizer and director of the triathlon and later duathlon held in Monticello. For his volunteer service, he received the Tall Pine Award from Camp Courageous. G.L. earned Order of the Arrow designation, Troop 1683, Monticello. He was an accomplished softball and basketball player, bicyclist and kayaker. He rode on RAGBRAI for several years and completed Colorado's Ride the Rockies in 1999. He also raced bicycles for many years, competing in local, state, regional and national events. He inspired and encouraged others to participate in cycling, for both recreation and competition. He was equally encouraging to local track and cross- country runners. He kayaked the waters of Puget Sound, the Florida Everglades, Lake Superior and the St. Lawrence Seaway. He kayaked from his hometown, Watseka, Ill., on the Iroquois River, down the Kankakee, Illinois and Mississippi rivers to the St. Louis Arch. He raced stock cars, off-road motorcycles and was an expert table tennis player as well. He was a diehard White Sox and Iowa State fan. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed to Camp Courageous of Iowa. A ten-mile memorial bicycle ride will begin at 3 p.m. following services and lunch. The ride will start from Monticello swimming pool and proceed along county road E16 west of Monticello. All cyclists are welcome to participate.