Robert Eastman

Robert Eastman was an accomplished artist and musician. He was an active member of his community, highly regarded for his many hours of volunteer work. His personality was eternally optimistic and upbeat. He knew that his life was a blessing, and each day he tried to share his happiness with his family and friends.

Following the bombing at Pearl Harbor, the United States entered the Second World War. Each day newspapers speculated on the latest developments, and each week President Roosevelt delivered a hopeful message via radio broadcast. Amid this climate of uncertainty, Budd Eastman and his wife Sue Alverson maintained their optimistic spirits by looking toward a different future, the future of their family. They were expecting a child, and on June 29, 1942 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their son Robert J. Eastman.

Robert was born in a maternity house in Holland, Michigan. The sixth of eight children, he grew up in Holland with the company of his brothers, Thomas, Michael, and Stephen, and his sisters, Lois, Marian, Donna, and Jennie. His father was an electrician, and his mother took small jobs to subsidize the family income when necessary. Consequently, Robert was often babysat by his older sisters with whom he grew very close. He was a cheerful and thoughtful child. Even at an early age he demonstrated the makings of an artist. He possessed the gift of creativity. He made paper flowers as gifts for his mother. At Holland High School he sang with the school choir; he also produced impressive work in his art classes. By the time that he graduated high school, he had already secured a paying job as an artist.

After high school he worked as an artist for a year. Robert then joined the Air Force and served as an airplane mechanic until his discharge after which he returned to Holland. Robert was making fireworks when his ingredients combusted, causing an explosion that claimed his vision. Although he had lost his sight, he had not lost his trademark cheerfulness. He soon began working at Raphael Drapery Co. where he sewed and made draperies.

Robert soon returned to the academic world. He attended classes at Hope College for one year, then transferred to Eastern Michigan University where he explored a variety of subjects, focusing primarily on art, music, and psychology; he studied by listening to audio versions of his textbooks. After a few years he graduated with a degree in Psychology and a minor in music.

Music and art remained Robert’s passion and skill. He was a true perfectionist: he approached every project with an artist’s eye for the details. He was an excellent painter, although his loss of vision was an obvious obstacle. Although he was not able to work as much as he wanted to, he never pitied himself. He stayed active and self-sufficient, and he used his artistic talent to reach out to his community. He taught the guitar to inmates at the Old Dunes Prison. He sang in a barbershop quartet and played the bells and sang for the Windmill Chorus. He visited many school classrooms in the Holland area to speak about his blindness.

Robert enjoyed socializing, and his cheerful personality attracted a wide circle of friends. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Holland and the church choir. He also belonged to the Methodist Men’s Club and the Philadelphia Sunday School. Many of his conversations centered around politics and world events, which he followed closely. Even without his vision, Robert retained his independence. He did his own laundry, and he earned a reputation as a good cook. His cookies were especially popular, and he regularly made them for his barbershop group.

Robert had a strong sense of fair play. He was a gifted artist and a good friend. He loved to share his passion for art and music with his family and his community. During his final days in the hospital, he picked up his guitar to play a few songs for his nurses. Like the music that he loved, Robert’s personality shined through with a contagious energy: he was an inspiration to everyone who came in contact with him. Among the many people who loved him, he will be greatly missed and frequently remembered.

Robert died on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at Spectrum Health, Blodgett Hospital, Grand Rapids. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the Downtown Chapel of Dykstra Life Story Funeral Home, 29 E. 9th St. Holland. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church of Holland, 57 W. 10th St. Holland. Robert is survived by sisters, Lois Mitchell of Holland, Marian and Don Van Ry of Holland, and Donna Dreyer of Holland, brothers, Thomas Eastman of Holland and Michael and Cheryl Eastman of Hamilton, brother in law, Robert Oisten of Holland, and many nieces and nephews. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Jennie Oisten, a brother, Stephen Eastman, brothers in law, Joseph Mitchell and John Dreyer. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church of Holland. Please visit Robert’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may sign the guest register or leave a memory for the family.