Birdean Seastrum

Birdean L. Seastrum, 91, died April 6, 2010, at Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center in Marshalltown, Iowa. Birdean was born September 12, 1918, in Gresham, Nebraska, to Herman and Pearl (Roberts) Helmers. As a young girl, she lived in Alabama and Mississippi. Upon the death of her father, the family returned to Gresham. On August 4, 1943, Birdean married Richard Eugene Gene Seastrum of Marshalltown. Gene was in the US Army, so the couple lived in various parts of the United States until the conclusion of World War II. At that time, they moved to Marshalltown to make their home. In 1954, Birdean started her Marshalltown teaching career at Anson Elementary School. From 1958-1979, Birdean taught at Norris Primary School, introducing nongraded education to Marshalltown. For the last four years of her teaching career, Birdean taught at Glick Elementary in Marshalltown, retiring in 1983.Birdean enjoyed sewing, raising flowers, researching her ancestry, and doing activities with her grandchildren when they were young and her great-grandchildren, especially having ice cream and cookies as snacks. Until late in her life, she was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Marshalltown.Above everything else, Birdean treasured her family. Birdean is survived by her daughter Karen (Jerry) Ketchum of Marshalltown and her son Don (Claudia) Seastrum of Gunnison, Colorado. Additionally she leaves her grandson Scott (Cherisse) Ketchum of New York City, her granddaughter Alyson (Rick) Rasmusson of Marshalltown, and two great-grandchildren: Tavian and Mia Rasmusson of Marshalltown. In death she is rejoining her husband Gene (who died Aug. 1991), her parents, her brothers Raymond Helmers and Frank Lindstrom, and sister Lillian Terrill.Services are to be held Monday, April 12, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Marshalltown, with Pastor Gregg Davison officiating. Ms. Angela Haugen will provide music for the services. A reception will be held at Trinity Lutheran following burial. Memorials may be directed to the family. There will be no visitation. Mitchell Family Funeral Home, Marshalltown, is in charge of the arrangements.Did you ever know that you're my hero, and ev'rything I would like to be? I can fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.