Eleanor L. Maust's Obituary
Eleanor Leona Callan (Maust) was born January 19, 1926 in little town Monti, Iowa to Eleanor “Nellie”(Gallery) and Lawrence Callan. She was the third daughter of five girls, Madelyn, Anne, Mary Pat, and Regina. Grandma shared when she was born, her family a boy. She remembers wearing coveralls on the farm and spending quite a lot of time with her father. She was a daddy’s girl and remembered worrying about him as he was out in severe snow storm trying to bring home food to his family. She told stories about growing up on the farm. There were cold nights and grandma let us know how smart she was for being the one who chose to sleep in the middle of the bed with her sisters Madelyn and Anne so she would stay warm.
Grandma was very close to her sisters. And when they were together laughter and song filled the room.
She was an amazing cook! Just a few weeks ago grandma talked about menus she would create for a King and Queen and for a football team. She took pride in feeding her family and making sure everyone had a happy, full belly. Many of her cooking skills were developed while working in the restaurant her parents owned in Waterloo, Iowa. The “Quick Lunch” was right next to the train stop. Grandma talked about how hard her mother worked and her father peeling potatoes constantly.
Grandma played basketball and was pretty good according to her. Her passion for basketball did not stop with her playing she also loved watching college basketball.
Grandma loved to dance she spoke of dancing often and was quite proud of her skills on the floor.
She met the love of her life and husband of 66 years at age, 15. She told us she liked how nice his legs were and thought he was pretty cute, while he was playing basketball. Their first date, a double date, was interesting because they were not paired up together. But grandma and grandpa ended up spending that double date interested in each other and they were together ever since. They Married on December 15, 1944. They struggled like many newlyweds and grandma tells a story of how together they hid in a closet to avoid the paperboy when he came to collect because they wanted to use that ten cents for the movies.
Grandma and grandpa moved more times than a military family, the number we were told was 27. With each move she made her house a home for her children Sharon, Max and Patti. These moves were to the south, mid-west, northwest and southwest.
They settled down in Avondale Lake, Idaho where she took on a career as a real estate agent. Grandma was so passionate about finding families the right home. It was especially close to her heart given all the times she moved with her family and how difficult that could be. She loved meeting new people and was involved in her community. She enjoyed playing bridge. She met two of her closest friends while living in Avondale, Evelyn and Angie. She had a terrific neighbor and close friend Susie, who lived across the street. She also became a grandmother to Jennifer, Sarah, Andrew, Matthew, and Patrick while living in Avondale.
Grandma and grandpa sold their house and hit the road in a motorhome where they traveled and enjoyed other parts of the country. After time on the road they began a new adventure in Las Vegas where they bought a house in Sun City and spent a lot of time at Santa Fe casino, playing bingo and her favorite poker machines where she definitely beat the odds and was a very lucky lady! Grandma planned a huge party to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary while living in Las Vegas. It was a grand party and she enjoyed seeing her family, especially her sisters.
Grandma and grandpa returned to the Spokane area where they moved (again) to a house in the Spokane Valley. Of course grandma still enjoyed her family and it had grown to include great grandchildren Samantha, Jake, Sadie, Natalie, Charlie, and Maya.
In January of 2011 grandpa passed away. Grandma enjoyed a trip to Nebraska and got to see her sisters Mary Pat and Regina. Unfortunately grandma suffered a stroke in May 2011. She never fully recovered from that event. She fought hard at times to rehabilitate but had set backs with her health that were very frustrating.
She lived in the Tacoma area where she got to meet her great-great granddaughter Sophia. She was proud to be part of five generations of girls, which she spoke of often to her caregivers.
Shortly before she passed away she was told about another great grand baby coming in March 2014. She was thrilled to get this news.
Grandma was very ill for a long time, but the last few months of her life she was much more comfortable. She passed away in her sleep, just like she wanted, the evening of August 20, 2013.
Her wise words, amazing sense of humor, gift of story-telling, and unconditional love for her family will be greatly missed.
in lieu of flowers please send donations to www.cdfund.org - the cronic disease fund or
www.nchs.org - the Nebraska children's home society
Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home. Remembrances may be shared at www.mountainviewtacoma.com
What’s your fondest memory of Eleanor?
What’s a lesson you learned from Eleanor?
Share a story where Eleanor's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Eleanor you’ll never forget.
How did Eleanor make you smile?
