John Pierson

John R. "Bob" Pierson, 87, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Sunday, March 11, 2012, at his home. Visitation will begin after 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. that evening. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel with Pastor Jeff McPheron officiating. Burial will be in St. Alphonsus Cemetery with full military rites. A memorial has been established to Great River Hospice. Born September 13, 1924, in Burlington, IA, John Robert was the son of John Gear and Marguerite (Ertzinger) Pierson. He was educated in the Burlington School System. In January of 1945, Bob enlisted in the United States Navy and served during World War II. He was honorably discharged on June 1, 1946. Bob married Dorothy Wiederrecht on March 15, 1947 in Burlington. The couple later divorced. A lifelong farmer, Bob began farming with his father on a dairy farm in rural Burlington. In 1957, Bob moved his family to a farm in the Pleasant Lawn area of rural Mt. Pleasant. He continued to farm until the time of his retirement. A member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Bob had been an active member in his younger years when he served on the Old Threshers Food Tent Committee. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and belonged to the Mt. Pleasant Moose Lodge #1003 and V.F.W. Post #2561. Bob had a fondness for ice cream and black licorice. He loved puzzles, magic tricks, and playing solitaire. Bob spent time watching songbirds at his birdfeeders and collecting coins. Bob is survived by a daughter, Lora L. (Bob) Larrance of Ames, IA; two granddaughters, Amy and Stephanie Larrance, both of Ames, IA; a brother, Donald (Charlotte) Pierson, of Burlington, IA; and a nephew Michael (Bonnie) Pierson of Burlington, IA. He is also survived by his caregivers, Doug Conner and Diana Weinreich. Bob's parents preceded him in death.