Linda Paine

Linda Darline Paine tap danced and ballet twirled her way gracefully and peacefully out of this life on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 11:11 a.m. She was surrounded by love at home-exactly where she longed to be until her true home was ready for her, prepared by her lifelong love, Jimmy Paine, who left in July to pave the way for her.

Born on April 2, 1949, Linda was raised in Waterloo, Iowa, the cherished daughter of Robert Eastman and Louise (Dean) Eastman. The youngest of three, Linda and her sisters, Barbara and Donna, shared a bond so special it resulted in decades of singing about it to the rest of the family.

Linda graduated as a Wahawk from Waterloo West High School in 1967 and went on to live a life defined by quiet devotion, grace in motion, and a heart that gave endlessly. On December 3, 1966, Linda married her lifelong sweetheart, Jimmy Cecil Paine. Together, they built a marriage of nearly 60 years-a partnership rooted in loyalty, shared memories, tender care through health challenges, and, most of all, unwavering love. When Jim passed in July of this year, Linda's heart carried the ache of losing her one true love, yet she remained steadfast, gentle, and brave to the very end.

Linda worked for several years as the Title Clerk at the county courthouse in Waterloo until motherhood called her to stay home. Linda was a dancer at heart. She dearly loved tap dance and ballet en pointe and possessed a rare talent-learning to jump rope while tap dancing on her toes. This remarkable feat placed her among only three people in the entire state of Iowa who could perform in this manner. Though small in stature, she carried herself with poise and strength; her life was a testament to discipline, artistry, and determination. If you knew Linda, you knew her quiet resilience.

She battled Crohn's disease and single-cell myeloma-illnesses she faced without complaint or loss of faith. Inside her tiny ballerina frame lived the heart of a lion. She fought fiercely to stay healthy enough to meet her grandchildren, to watch her children grow into parents themselves, and to be present through every season of family life, both joyful and difficult. Despite chronic pain, Linda continued to care for Jim and their home without missing a step-grace in motion, always.

Linda gave generously of her time and talents. She volunteered for many years with the Junior League of Iowa and devoted 17 years of service to the Des Moines Public Schools, where she worked as a school secretary and administrative assistant for the Focus program, supporting children with behavioral challenges. Their stories left profound impressions on her, which she often shared with her own children. She loved what she did and expressed it through drawing and writing. Linda was an artist and loved to write, leaving her children witty stories and truths of her life that we would not have if not for her pouring it onto paper and into her life. Linda was a quiet and gentle soul; she listened far more than she spoke. Her kindness left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered.

Linda's loyalty shined through in her Potluck Group, with the lifelong friendships of six special friends who spent game nights in high school sharing a meal at one another's homes before heading out to cheer on their team: Betsy Bentley, Peg Kugler, Elaine Luttrell, Kathy Nelson, Sue Petersen, and Georgia Stoeber. Our gratitude for your enduring friendship and presence in Linda's life is endless. Your traditions, which evolved into annual girls' trips and, toward the end of Linda's days, dedicated weekly visits from Betsy and several gatherings at the home, are precious memories she cherished.

The family extends a deeply heartfelt thank you to Linda's best friend, Betsy Bentley, whose unwavering devotion-visiting every single week throughout Linda's year and a half on home hospice-was a profound gift of love, loyalty, and presence. Words will never be enough. Endless gratitude is also extended to Tammy, Riley, Adam, and Lacey, whose hands, hearts, and strength helped care for Linda day and night-administering medications, offering comfort, and bearing witness through the hardest hours.

To Linda's sisters, Donna and Barbara, thank you for your meaningful visits and the deep sisterhood you shared. Linda's family acknowledges that this has been a heavy year of loss, and they thank all who have reached out with kindness, patience, and support during this time of integration and healing. Rest easy now, Mom. Your suffering has ended. We know we have gained a guardian angel-our tiny dancer, our fierce warrior, reunited at last with the love of your life.

Linda is survived by her three children and their fur baby, Gunny:

• Tammy Snyder (Rich) of Des Moines, and their children Kasey Vermillion and Alli Howerton (Ryan), and seven grandchildren.

• Jen Carolan (Adam) of Waukee, and their children Riley Goemann (Sam), Jace Goemann (Sammy), Sara Carolan, and Christian Carolan.

• Dan Paine (Lacey) of Cumming, and their children Avery Houk (Jack), Oliver Paine, and Cooper Paine.

Linda also leaves behind her loving sisters, Barbara Dietz (Dennis) of Waterloo and Donna Aegerter of West Des Moines, as well as many special nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Louise Eastman; in-laws John Paine and Marilyn Jean Neebel; brother-in-law William Aegerter; brother-in-law Mike Paine; nephew Rob Deitz; niece Sheri Dietz; nephew William (Billy) Aegerter, and nephew-in-law David Sapp, along with several aunts and uncles and her grandparents.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m., with a luncheon to follow at 12:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Linda's name to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, a lifelong cause that Jim and Linda supported.r