Margaret C. Eastburn

MONTICELLO, IOWA

Margaret (Maggie) B. Eastburn, 91, of Monticello, Iowa, “shuffled off this mortal coil” on July 14, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Margaret Cecile Binkerd was born on July 5, 1935, in Des Moines, Iowa, daughter of Orville Luther and Edna (Gertsch) Binkerd. Margaret was the middle child of five siblings; older sisters Shirley and Martha with younger brothers Edward and Adrian. She had an adventurous childhood growing up in her neighborhood east of Drake University. She attended high school at St. Joseph’s Academy (SJA), an experience she recounted as instrumental in solidifying her faith and awakening her inquisitive mind. Following SJA, Margaret enrolled at Drake and began her collegiate studies in Physical Education. While playing in a social softball game between Drake and Iowa State, she met a tall, skinny distance runner from ISU. Margaret and George Eastburn hit it off from the introduction and began dating. On January 29, 1955 they were married in St. John’s Basilica, Des Moines, and began an exciting 50-year journey.

The early days found George and Margaret working to explore farming life, a passion George possessed and Margaret supported. After a few years of challenges, they made the decision to put George’s degree to work and moved to Monticello to begin work in the fertilizer industry and to raise their family. In 1962, they moved to 308 North Chestnut Street, the home they would share for the next 44 years. Margaret, soon to embrace “Maggie”, took great pride in designing a home of style and color, with decorative items that embraced form, history and, above all, family. While creating their home, she was also intently focused on raising five children, a privilege she embraced with unmatched energy.

Maggie was an extrovert who enjoyed Questers, Delphian, and PEO. She also contributed to her community by teaching CCD and serving on the Library Board. She learned calligraphy along the way. What began as her penmanship became her art. Cards and envelopes were her canvas; the pen her brush.

Following the departure of their last offspring from 308, Maggie shifted her energy to other pursuits. She continued her efforts at 308 but also began working for the Grant Wood AEA as a tutor for high school students. She was honored by her students when they selected her to be the Grand Marshall of the Homecoming Parade and honored by her peers with an Educational Partner award from Grant Wood AEA.

Following George’s death in 2006, she continued putting energy into her home, her landscaping and her community activities. Maggie was always willing to step-up her style to project a confident and self-assured woman long before it was in vogue. She loved hosting visitors and rarely locked her door hoping someone might pop in for a chat. Any visitor would be welcomed with open arms, a smile and a cup of black coffee. She also embraced the opportunity for debate, whether willing or not, on a broad range of topics. She was a woman of many quotes, which she would recount when appropriate. Her favorite, “Yes and no, as any good Jesuit would say,” was insight into what justified her willingness to enter a debate. Her yard was a point of great pride and her interest in unique plant life brought form and color to frame her house. Those who visited witnessed directly that she was not a fan of a manicured lawn. She loved the natural world and often expressed great joy when she witnessed a new bird, bug or animal she had never seen before. Her curiosity was insatiable.

Survivors include her five children, daughters: Allison Heffern (Michael), Andrea; sons: Geoffrey, Christopher (Sherri Condon) and Bennett. Grandchildren: Graham (Soumya), Eileen (Sean), Jesse (Eli), Anna (Eric) Donovan (Lauren), Nicholas (Jordan), Camille (Blake), Elliott (Grace) and Harrison. Great grandchildren: Maggie, Hazel, Gray, David, Beatrice, Bralen, Lillian, Sloane and Emmett and dear nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her best friend and beloved husband, George, who she missed every day. She was also proceeded in death by her siblings and extended family of in-law brothers and sisters.

The family would like to thank the staff at Bickford Senior Living and St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed to Iowa Public Television or Iowa Public Radio, a cause she found essential to developing a balanced view of the world we inhabit.

Visitation will be held 4:00–8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Monticello, Iowa. Visitation will continue at 12:30 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church prior to the funeral mass.

Funeral Mass will commence at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello, Iowa. Inurnment will be held later at Roberts Cemetery in Watseka, Illinois where she will be reunited with George.

Kramer-Morris Funeral Home (Dyersville, Guttenberg, Garnavillo, Monticello, Holy Cross) is assisting the family and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.