Dwane Pearson

Sibley, Iowa Dwane Pearson, age 85 of Sibley, IA died Sunday, December 30, 2007 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA. Memorial service will be 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA with Pastor Clint Loveall and Pastor Terry Simm officiating. A private burial for family will take place prior to the memorial service. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 1, 2008 from 2 " 8 p.m. with family present from 6 " 8 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley, IA. Dwane Lee Pearson was born on May 8, 1922, the son of Lee and Bessie (Wallace) Pearson. He grew up in the Ocheyedan area and attended Sibley schools until his enlistment in the National Guard at the age of 17. Dwane was trained as a medic and served four years in the US Army seeing some of the worst of the fighting of WWII. Most of his service time was spent in the European Theatre where he participated in three major battles; The Invasion of Normandy, The Liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulge. After his honorary discharge from the service he returned home and on August 12, 1945, he was united in marriage to Lois Immens at the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley, IA. To this union three children were born. Early in his career, Dwane purchased a milk truck and started his own route collecting milk from area farmers. This venture grew and Dwane added another man and truck to handle the workload. At a point in time, Osceola County Coop Creamery offered Dwane a job and he began his many years associated with what would become AMPI. One of his positions for AMPI was Procurement Manager for the North Central Region of the Midwestern United States. This job covered several states and required many hours of driving, so Dwane learned to fly and became a licensed pilot in order to shorten the distances and the time away from home. In 1975 he accepted the position of manager for the Freeman, SD Creamery. He remained there until his retirement in 1985. Dwane had many interests and hobbies throughout his life. At the forefront of his love was his family. He adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved spending time with them, telling them stories and jokes and taking them almost everywhere he went. He was an avid woodworker, fisherman, hunter and gardener. He would till gardens for many people in the spring and can fresh vegetables galore with his wife in the summer and fall. Winemaking was also something Dwane enjoyed doing in his spare time and its said he was quite good at it. Many will remember Dwane for his gentle smile, his big heart and his wonderful sense of humor. His family will remember him especially as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. This past Sunday, Dwane died at the Osceola Community Hospital at the age of 85. He is survived by three children: Margene (husband Wendell) Erickson of Spicer, MN, Jolene (husband William) Eddy of Aurora, CO, and William (wife Jan) Pearson of Sibley, IA; twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; one sister, Donna Besgrove of Iowa City, IA and one brother, Delbert Pearson of Springhill, FL. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Lois Kathryn Pearson; his parents; two brothers, Donald Pearson and Doyle (Jim) Pearson.