Rosie Eastwood

Rosie Eastwood, 79, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 8th, 2026. She was born on November 24, 1946 in Innsbruck, Austria, the second daughter of Slavi and Zonka Boneff, Bulgarians, who had been taken to Austria during WWII.

In 1949, The Boneff family immigrated to the United States, entering via Ellis Island. Rosie grew up as Rozinka Boneff, on the East side of Kansas City, Missouri. She was an excellent student at both Manchester Elementary and East High School. Rosie fondly remembered her days growing up with her older sister, Vee, and younger brother, Nick, who was born in the USA. Her father worked at Armco Steel and the Salvation Army at Truman Road and Bennington helped settle the immigrants. In time, the Boneff family had a large garden, from which Rosie sometimes sold peppers and tomatoes. When she was in the third grade, Rosie proudly became a U.S. citizen.

Rosie thrived at East High School, as a cheerleader, newspaper literary editor, yearbook activities editor, AAUW Treasurer, member of the Leundis Literary Society, Queen of Hearts, Eastonian Queen, and Senior voted most likely to succeed. Rosie met the love of her life, Wes Eastwood, just off the football field. She was cheerleading for East, and he played for the opposing team, Paseo High School. They knew immediately that marriage and family would be their future together.

Rosie and Wes both attended Southwest Missouri State College in Springfield, Missouri together. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, business manager of the college newspaper, voted Queen of Diamonds, fraternity sweetheart of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities.

She graduated in 1968 with degrees in English and Social Studies. The week after her college graduation she married Wes at the Anna E. Kresge Chapel at the St. Paul School of Theology. They spent years after marriage advancing their careers, spending evenings with friends, and taking vacations to Acapulco and California. For 44 years she taught English and Social Studies in the Shawnee Mission School District, at Old Mission High School, Hillcrest Junior High School, and Westridge Middle School. She also had fun with students as a sponsor of many school activities and field trips.

Rosie enjoyed participating in her children’s various sports teams and after school activities and prioritized family vacations to Colorado and Florida. Some weekends in summer allowed opportunities to entertain friends and family on the deck of their home. Rosie was an avid bridge player and loved monthly dinners at Kansas City restaurants with their close-knit group of friends.

As her children grew, the family moved to the Blue Valley School District where her children attended middle and high school. Rosie stayed active with many life-long friends, and was always playing Bunko and bowling on teams. Both of her children graduated from the University of Kansas, Matthew works in information technology and Alison is a pharmacist.

Rosie was preceded in death by her husband Wes, father Slavi, mother Zonka, and younger brother Nick. She is survived by her children, daughter Alison Eastwood and her partner Aaron Miller, son Matthew Eastwood, and grandson Elliot Eastwood, as well as her sister, Vee Garrison (nee Boneff) and her husband Bob Garrison, and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 23rd, at 4:00pm at the Morse Village Covenant Church, 15431 Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS 66221, https://www.morsechurch.org/, where Rosie gathered with friends regularly to worship. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support her beloved church.

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