Robert W Pearson

Robert Warren Pearson, age 91 of Mead, died Thursday, January 7, 2016 in Wahoo. He was born in Wahoo on December 23, 1924 to Henry and Maybell (Hanson) Pearson and was baptized at the Swedeburg Covenant Church and confirmed at the Mission Covenant Church in 1939. Bob's family lived in rural Wahoo and moved to Mead in the spring of 1935. While growing up, Bob helped his dad farm, milked cows by hand, and raised hogs. Initially, they farmed with horses, but were able to buy a used tractor in 1937. Robert graduated from Mead Consolidated High School in 1942 where he was Class President. He was drafted into the US Navy in March of 1945 and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. When the war ended, Robert was stationed at a Receiving Station in the Philippine Islands where he had been assigned to an LST ship as a Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class. During his military service, Bob traveled throughout the western Pacific Ocean, mostly hauling Japanese prisoners of war from Okinawa, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Shanghai China. Upon his discharge in July of 1946, Bob returned to Mead. He was appointed Rural Mail Carrier on January 2, 1951 and carried mail at Mead and Colon until his retirement in December of 1989. While working for the Postal Service, Bob also worked as a mechanic at the A.L. Novy John Deere Implement Company in Wahoo. Even in retirement, Bob was not one to slow down. He continued to work part time at the Wahoo Sale Barn, the Wahoo Newspaper and at the Country Store in Mead. On June 15, 1952 Robert married Elaine Bergman at Zion Lutheran Church in Ithaca. He was a longtime member of the Mead Covenant Church, served on the Mead Public Schools Board of Education, the Mead Planning Commission, and was a Board Member for the Saunders County Historical Society. Bob was also a member of both the American Legion Post #82 and VFW Post #4502 in Wahoo for more than 50 years. Robert is survived by his daughter Glenda Russell of Grand Island; son and daughter-in-law Curtis and Donna Pearson of Mead; grandchildren Andrew Russell of Chester NE, Adam Robert Russell of Omaha, Brian Pearson of Mead, Lindsey Pearson of Kearney; great-grandchildren Erin Puhalla, JaeLynn Russell and Sophie Russell; brother and sister-in-law Howard and Gladys Pearson of Wahoo; sister Lois Taylor of Lynnwood WA; sisters-in-law Nancy (Dave) Perry of Omaha, Carol Simmons of Santee CA, Jackie Bergman of Ithaca; brother-in-law Fred (Marilynne) Bergman of Lincoln; nieces, nephews and cousins. Bob was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Maybell Pearson; his wife of 62 years, Elaine Pearson; and brother Richard Pearson.