Marilyn Eales

Marilyn Eales, age 92, died suddenly but peacefully on October 25, 2021 in Greenville, N.C.  

Marilyn was born on Sept. 1, 1929 in Soudan, MN, the youngest of three children of John and Esther Helstrom.  She was born and raised in Tower / Soudan, graduating from the Tower High School in 1947.  

Just shy of 16 years of age, her first date was a blind date (nervously permitted by her parents) on the occasion of V.J. Day in 1945. She returned home (before curfew) and told her mother that she had met the man she was going to marry. A great judge of character even then, she proved to be right.

Our father, John D. (Jack) Eales and our mother married on Sept. 10, 1949 in Sioux City, Iowa.  In 1955, Jack enrolled in seminary, heeding his calling to become an Episcopal priest. Our parents made the move from Sioux City to Cambridge, MA with two small children in tow. Three years later came a move to a small church in Denison, IA, followed by lengthy parish ministries as rector at Calvary Episcopal Church in Utica, NY, Gethsemane Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, MN and St. Cross Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach, CA.  After retirement in the mid-1990’s, they settled into a wonderful home and community in Greenville, NC.  

Throughout the many moves and the many years, summers at Lake Vermilion, Tower, remained a constant in their lives as well as ours. It was a soul-nourishing touchstone for them and for all of us. Following our father’s death in 1999, Marilyn continued her summer stays at Lake Vermilion for as long as her health allowed.

Jack and Marilyn were true soulmates, devoted to each other and to their children.  Our mother was Jack’s biggest booster, best friend and the one who could, and would, suggest a “course correction” when needed.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband Jack, parents John and Esther Helstrom, brother Wendell Helstrom, sister Janet Brown, and infant daughter Sarah Lynn Eales. She is survived by children Frazier (Heidi) Eales, Minneapolis, MN, Scott Eales, Indianapolis, IN, Warren (Yeong) Eales, Chandler, AZ and Sally (Eric) Finical, Greenville, N.C., as well as eleven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service and internment will take place at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN in the late spring or early summer of 2022.

Well done, good and faithful servant.