Ritchie Funeral Home

Jack Pearson, age 94, of Clarinda, Iowa, entered into peace Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at his residence in Clarinda. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Ritchie Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa with Reverend Mike Harvey officiating. Visitation with the family will be held 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the funeral home prior to the service. Burial will be in the Clarinda Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Southwest Iowa Humane Society or to the Nodaway Valley Historical Museum. Memories. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Clarinda, Iowa.

Jack Norman Pearson, the only child of Ernest and Elsie (Davison) Pearson and was born January 15, 1922 in Clarinda, Iowa. He grew up in the coal mines and was a life time resident of Clarinda graduating from Clarinda High School in 1940 and from Clarinda Community College. He entered the Army Air Corp March, 1943 and graduated from cadet training June 1944 and was discharged September 1945 as a Second Lieutenant. His military occupational specialty was fighter pilot and training other cadets. Jack and Darleen J. Waxmonsky were united in marriage October 7, 1951.

Through the years, Jack’s occupations were as varied as his interests; he was a “Jack of all trades”. He followed the trade of watchmaking for several years along with other employment (working for the phone company, delivering milk and others) . Jack retired from the Clarinda Mental Health Hospital working in various departments for eighteen and half years.

Jack was an active member of the First Christian Church serving in several capacities through the years. He had an excellent singing voice and greatly enjoyed being in the choir and also singing solos and had sang the Sunday before his death. Jack also enjoyed singing in the combined choir for Clarinda Sings. He was a member of the Nodaway Lodge 140, the Clarinda chapter of the R.A.M. and the local Stick & Rag flying club. Special interests were flying and Ham Radio. Jack was a voracious reader and traveler with keen insights on the world around him. He lived life to the fullest and with gusto. Fishing in Minnesota was great fun for him with special friends.

Preceding Jack in death were his parents; wife, Darleen Pearson and sisters-in-law, Mary Jo Kaserman and Virginia VanAlstine.

Jack will be remembered for his smile, warmth, energy, his love for life, family and friends. To his friends and family his passing is a profound loss. May God grant comfort and strength to those who mourn his passing.