Eva Chastain

Eva Chastain, born in Halle, Germany on April 21, 1930 went home on October 10, 2014. Her husband, Clark Chastain, a professor at the University of Michigan, formerly of Lowes Creek, Arkansas preceded her in death. Eva Chastain was born to Karl Goette and wife Margarete on Easter in 1930, the eldest of three children. The family lived in a small industrial town in Saxony, Germany. Her childhood was very happy until WWII began. Wartime meant living in the basement because of daily bombing raids. The family escaped harm. The most painful memory was that of her parents going to bed hungry. The children were always given any food they could get. After the war Saxony was occupied by the Soviets. Because her father stubbornly refused to join the Communist Party his actions resulted in more hardships as well as Eva's rejection of her application to an art college. She made plans to leave East Germany. It was illegal and dangerous, but she succeeded. She settled in West Germany and there she met her future husband, Clark, and followed him to the States in 1954. Clark chose the U of M for his doctoral work and the couple resided in Ann Arbor for nearly 20 years before moving to Flint. They enjoyed world travel and visiting her family every summer. She spent many happy years in Michigan. She was blessed with new friends late in life at St. Michael's. Thank you for welcoming her with loving arms. She especially loved the choir and the hymns chosen by Mr. McDonald. She said that when the choir made music at Mass it always felt as though the heavens opened up and angels carried prayers there. Eva was employed by Industrial Tectonics in Dexter and retired in 1996 after 35 years with the company. Surviving relatives are a brother, Klaus Goette and wife Erika, a sister Karin Backhaus and spouse Gerwald residing in Germany. Also surviving are sister-in-law Sue Riewe of Dallas, TX, brother-in-law Bill Chastain and spouse Juanita of Sun City Center, FL, and numerous nieces, nephews, and a very special cousin, Sigrid. Funeral services will be on Friday, November 14th at 10:00 AM at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Flint. A luncheon will follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, the Humane Society or the University of Michigan Recreation Center Development. Tributes may be shared on the obituaries page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.