Peoria Journal Star, April 5, 2005

HAVANA - Wilbur D. Pierson, 70, of 824 N. Broadway died at 5:15 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 2005, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.

Born July 6, 1934, in Havana to Calvin and Mabel Taylor Pierson, he married Anna French on April 4, 1953, in Havana. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, Jamie of Havana; five daughters, Mrs. Loy (Karen) Bridges of Havana, Mrs. Chubby (Debbie) Richardson and Mrs. Al (Jodi) Landry, both of Bath, Mrs. Pat (Laura) Ebert of Lewistown and Mrs. Brian (Jennie) Stiltz of New Castle, Ind.; two brothers, Larry "Buck" (and Ruth) Pierson of Havana and Donnie Lippert of Mason City; four sisters, Loretta Hurt and Dixie Watkins, both of Havana, Coleen (and Frank) Otto of Lewistown and Sharon (and Wayne) Richardson of Beardstown; 17 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Cathy Pinken; three sisters; and one brother.

He retired in 1981 as a crane operator at Dana Corp. in Havana.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Hurley Funeral Home in Havana, where visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Mason District Hospital.

State Journal-Register, Springfield, IL, April 5, 2005

HAVANA - Wilbur D. Pierson, 70, of Havana died Sunday, April 3, 2005, at Memorial Medical Center.

He was born July 6, 1934, in Havana, the son of Calvin and Mabel Taylor Pierson. He married Anna French in 1953 in Havana. A daughter, Cathy Pinken, preceded him in death.

Mr. Pierson retired as a crane operator from Dana Corp. in Havana in 1981.

Survivors: wife, Anna; son, Jamie Pierson of Havana; five daughters, Karen (husband, Loy) Bridges of Havana, Debbie (husband, Chubby) Richardson and Jodi (husband, Al) Landry, both of Bath, Laura (husband, Pat) Ebert of Lewistown and Jennie (husband, Brian) Stiltz of New Castle, Ind.; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Larry (wife, Ruth) Pierson of Havana and Donnie Lippert of Mason City; and four sisters, Loretta Hurt and Dixie Watkins, both of Havana, Coleen (husband, Frank) Otto of Lewistown and Sharon (husband, Wayne) Richardson of Beardstown.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Hurley Funeral Home, Havana. Burial: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Havana.

Contributed by Sara Hemp