Melanie Arlene Thwing-Eastman

March 15, 1989 - June 5, 2020

Melanie Arlene Thwing-Eastman, 31, of Le Claire, Iowa, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was blessed to have the best care team at Froedtert Hospital, led by Dr. Gilbert Fareau, Dr. Elizabeth Gore, Dr. Stuart Wong, and - as Mel referred to him - “the big boss man” Dr. Douglas Evans. In addition to them, she was always surrounded by their expert teams and caring staff. While doing their expert work, this team allowed her to visit them in their offices without appointments, gave her lunch money on occasion and enjoyed whatever adult onesie she decided to wear to her treatment. Melanie was born in Racine, WI on March 15, 1989, to Janell Thwing. She was a 2007 graduate of Tremper High School, Kenosha, Wisconsin. She continued her education at Iowa State University, where she was a proud member of the Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Kappa. She served as chapter President in 2010-2011. She also had the opportunity to study abroad through the Semester at Sea program. She traveled the world during this time and embraced the voyage’s theme of Ubuntu, a belief in the universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity. She graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice with a secondary major in Sociology. Melanie took a year sabbatical to battle her adrenal cortical carcinoma and then moved on to Drake Law School. She graduated with her Juris Doctor in 2015. While there she served as the Student Bar Association president from 2014-2015 and was the distinguished recipient of the Iowa State Bar Association Award in 2015. Following law school she became an attorney for the Iowa State Public Defenders Office. She began her career at the Blackhawk County Office before moving to the Scott County Office. She was a smart, articulate, caring and witty woman who was a zealous advocate for the rights of the accused in her professional life and spoke out against injustice in her personal life. She also loved hot dogs, sour gummies and flaming hot Cheetos. The highlight of Melanie’s life was marrying Justin Eastman, her life partner, on October 5, 2019 at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines, Iowa. They met in 2014 in downtown Des Moines. Justin and his bowtie stood out in the crowd, and Melanie pretended to be very interested in sports and cooking to strike up a conversation. The only thing she was honest about that day was her love of whisky. Together they built a home in Le Claire, Iowa with their two dogs, Roo and Emmy, and two cats, Auggie and Rosie. Melanie is survived by her husband Justin Eastman, mother Janell Thwing, great aunt Florence Zalatoris, mother-in-law, Julie Eastman-Lennie, father-in-law Jim Lennie, grandma Diane Eastman, her goddaughter Gabrielle Schultz as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and too many friends to count. She was preceded in death by her grandmother Frances Thwing, great uncle Joseph Zalatoris and grandpa Donald Eastman. Visitation will be 10 AM until service time on Friday, June 12, 2020. at Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Catholic Church. 510 E. 1st Street Ankeny, IA 50023 Mass of Christian Burial will be 1 PM Friday with burial following at Ankeny Memorial Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. IMPORTANT SERVICE INFORMATION: Traffic Construction Notice: The 1st Street exit is closed. If you are coming north on I-35 please use exit 90 (Oralabor Road) and go west to Highway 69 and head north to 1st street and go back east. The church will be on the north side of the road. If you are coming south on I-35 please use exit 94 (36th Street) and go west to Delaware Ave and turn south. Go to 1st street and turn west and the church will be on the north side of the street. Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Catholic Church will require that you bring and wear a mask if you are attending the visitation and/or service. All church and funeral home staff will follow COVID - 19 guidelines and we ask that you do as well. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, allowed seating for the service will be limited to 300 people. The visitation will not be limited but we will follow social distancing guidelines. The funeral service will also be live streamed on Friday at 1 PM. Please go to https://youtu.be/7_ZOr_xovVo Flowers may be delivered to the church on Thursday, June 11, 2020.