Eugene Stuart Eastham

 Eugene Eastham, 85, of Colorado Springs passed away peacefully at his home on October 18, 2024, after a valiant battle with cancer.

 He was born on February 28, 1939 at home in Fairfield Township, Crow Wing County, Minnesota to Gussie Eutell and Louise Elizabeth (Thesing) Eastham. At his birth his parents were told to hold him close, as he was not expected to survive the night. He defied the odds and went on to live a long and fulfilling life.

 He joined the United States Navy in 1957 and worked on Aircraft Carriers with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Nine. He was discharged from active service in 1961 at Quonset Point NAS Rhode Island.

 While at Quonset Point, he met his future wife, Joyce Grace Daily at a USO dance in Providence, Rhode Island and the two were married on April 8, 1961. During their 63-year marriage they welcomed two daughters, Michelle Louise and Julie Marie.

 The family lived at Masons Ranch in Security and Ellicott before settling in Peyton, Colorado where they lived for 40 years. During their time in the Peyton area, Gene was a member of the Peyton School Board and taught Hunters' Safety.

 He worked as a plumber before becoming a plumbing inspector for Regional Building Department in Colorado Springs. He retired as the Chief Plumbing Inspector in 1993.

 In the mid 1970’s, a fellow parishioner at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Calhan asked Gene to attend an informational talk about the Diaconate Program. After that meeting the two men signed up for the program and spent the next 2 years traveling to St. Thomas Seminary in Denver for instruction. Gene was ordained on April 9, 1977. His first assignment was to St. Michaels in Calhan before being transferred to Our Lady of the Pines in Black Forest. In addition to his service to the parishioners at Our Lady of the Pines, Gene spent 28 years as a Police Chaplain for the Colorado Springs Police Department.

 In his spare time, he loved to fish, hunt and spend time with his family. In his later years he took up woodcarving as a hobby and proudly demonstrated woodcarving at Heritage Village in Largo, Florida and the Florida State Fair.

 Gene is survived by his beloved wife, Joyce and their two daughters, Michelle Eastham and Julie Knier (John), his four grandchildren: Catherine Knier (Saurabh), Robert Knier, Scott Knier and Hailey Burkhart, his two great-grandchildren: Shanaya and Isaac and his brothers Jim (Dalene), Larry (Barbara) and Gary (Julie). He was preceded in death by his parents, Gus and Louise, his sister Mary Lou Oakley (Cleve) and his brother Kenneth (Suzanne).

 Funeral services will be held on Saturday October 26, 2024 at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church in Black Forest. Visitation will be at 9:00am with Mass at 11:00am, followed by a luncheon in the Parish Hall. Burial will be at Pikes Peak National Cemetery on Tuesday October 29, 2024 at 10:00am.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: Catholic Relief Services (crs.org) or the Office of Vocations for the diocese of Colorado Springs (appeal.diocs.org/vocations).