Memorial
James "Jim" Walter Pearson Jr., 82 passed away in his home in Cedar Rapids surrounded by family on Tuesday, December 7th following an illness. Jim was born on September 9, 1928 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to James and Blanche Pearson. He married his loving wife, Beverly on January 20, 1952 in Ames, Iowa. Together, they had 5 children: Dennis Pearson of Boulder, Colorado, Donald (Linda) Pearson of Cedar Rapids, William (Lissa) Pearson of Cedar Rapids, Kimberley Melheim of Cedar Rapids, and Jeffrey (Shelly) Pearson of Marion.
Jim was a proud member of the Marine Corps and served from 1946 to 1949. He served with the Ames Police Department for two years before moving to Cedar Rapids in 1967 when he begin working for Collins Radio as a security guard. Jim then worked at FMC and eventually retired from Rockwell Collins where he had returned to work as a security guard. Jim enjoyed coaching little league and Babe Ruth in Hiawatha for several years. He was a proud member of the VFW and the Marine Corps League.
Jim is survived by his wife, 5 children, 8 grandchildren: Corey (Jenny), Nikki, Eric, Taylor, Mitch, and Drew Pearson, Chelsea (Jason) Preston, and Lyndsey (Adam) Wright; 3 step-grandchildren; Zach, Blake, and Sydney Nielsen , 7 great-grandchildren: Nathan and Hannah Pearson, Rex and Nash Preston, and Max, Kooper, and Jett Wright, and two sisters: Betty Westmoreland of Murphy, North Carolina and Sarah Jo Swann of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jim was preceded in death by his parents.
Jim enjoyed golfing, baseball, and trips to the casino. More so, he was a family man who enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was always making up games and coming up with new ways to entertain everyone. He had a sense of humor unlike anyone else, which was appreciated by everyone. Anyone who met Jim fell in love with him immediately. He was an incredibly lovable man with a heart of gold.
A visitation for Jim will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home Friday, December 10th from 4-7PM. Funeral services delivered by Scott Shanahan will be held at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories the following morning, Saturday, December 11th at 11AM. The family would like to thank St. Luke's Hospice, especially Jim's wonderful nurse Susan, for giving him such wonderful care during his final days.
"To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die."- Thomas Campbell