Carol Jean Easterhaus of Columbia, Missouri, passed away on May 23, 2026.

Carol was born on July 30, 1946, to Harold and Martha Ristau in Lu Verne, Iowa. She was baptized on August 18, 1946 and confirmed on July 3, 1960 at Zion Lutheran Church in Lu Verne, Iowa.  Her early years were spent on the family farm outside of Lu Verne alongside her brothers, Daryl and David, and her sister, Susan. Carol graduated from Lu Verne High School in 1964. She then attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, where she earned a degree in Education and met her future husband, Pete.

Carol and Pete were married in 1967 at Zion Lutheran Church in Lu Verne, Iowa. Together they built a loving family and raised two children, Kim and Scott. When Scott was in elementary school, Carol began teaching at Trinity Lutheran Child Learning Center. Over the next 23 years, she faithfully served as a teacher and director.

One of the greatest joys of Carol’s life was her family, especially her grandchildren, Carly and Cody Easterhaus.

Carol never knew a stranger. She had a remarkable knack for meeting people from Northern Iowa no matter where she and Pete traveled throughout the world. She was an avid card player and, in later years, loved playing Mahjong. She and Pete enjoyed participating in several card groups and cherished the special friendships they formed through their mall walking group.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Martha Ristau; her parents-in-law, Harold and Daisy Easterhaus; her brother and sister-in-law, Daryl and Connie Ristau; her brother-in-law, Denny Hefty; her sister-in-law, Melissa Ristau; and her brother-in-law, Ralph Easterhaus.

Carol is survived by her husband Eldrid (Pete) Easterhaus of Columbia, Mo, daughter Kim Easterhaus of Overland Park, KS, Son Scott (Jackie) Easterhaus and their kids Carly and Cody of Overland Park, KS, sister Susan Hefty of State Center, IA, brother David Ristau of Fort Dodge, Ia, sister in-law Beverly Easterhaus of Fort Wayne, IN.  Also many nieces and nephews, Gina Cook of Algona, IA, Laura (Mike) Schiek of Fort Dodge, Ia, Alison (Curtis) Summers of State Center, IA, Andrew (Kiley) Hefty of Pratteville, AL, Charles (Ashley) Ristau of Portland, OR, Dianna (Melody) Kosobucki  of Cedar Rapids, IA, Ryan (Danyele) Easterhaus of Sheridan, IN, Jon (Meaghan) Easterhaus of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, Christin (Neal) Clark of Frankfort, IN, Allison (Eric) Honeycutt of Frankfort, TN.

Visitation will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on May 27th from 5:00 - 7:00 PM.  The Funeral Service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on May 28th at 10:00 AM with graveside ceremony and luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to one of the following:  Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia (Hospice House), Mid-Missouri Lutheran Ministries or Trinity Lutheran Church.

Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Easterhaus family.