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BORN
1945
DIED
2011
David Pearson Obituary
He was a successful athlete and scholar in high school setting many track and field records. He left college to join the U.S. Air Force in 1964 and served for 20 years defending our nation and proudly served in the Vietnam War doing three tours of duty and receiving combat service medals. He also earned Air Medals for his dedication and professionalism in support of aerial combat missions.
Dave found home when he moved to Alaska and decided to finish his military career and live in Alaska for the rest of his life. He spent the last 20 years as a fire suppression expert on Eielson Air Force Base. His in-depth knowledge and quest for excellence protected the ICEMEN of Eielson and some of the nation's most strategic military assets.
He loved reading, fishing, hunting and watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He became an avid golfer later in life and played league golf for the last several years. Dave was a giving and kind man who loved his family immensely. He was a wonderful husband and father and will be deeply missed by his family.
Dave was preceded in death by his father, Carlyle Pearson, and sister, Winnie Pearson.
He is survived by his wife, Betty J. Pearson of North Pole; mother Eleanor O. Pearson (Stomprud) of Spearfish, S.D.; daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda V. Pearson of Laguna Beach, Calif., Marcella D. (Jeff) Sawyer of Kingman, Ariz., Tammy L. (Dennis) Polansky of Troy, Ill., and Suzi Pearson (John Taylor) of Anchorage; son David T. Pearson of North Pole; son-in-law, Richard (Sheila) Hancock and children Fauna, David, Ben and Kerri of Cincinnati; grandsons, Joel Duffield (Cheryl) of North Pole, Billy Duffield of Fairbanks and Dillon and Brayden Polansky of Troy, Ill.; granddaughter, Fauna (Chad) Reynvaan of Anchorage; great-granddaughters, Mariah and Milla Duffield of North Pole; sisters, Eleanor I. Pearson of Spearfish and Mary (Mike) Kelly of Haley, Idaho; brother John (Chris) Pearson of Spearfish; and special friends, Jim and Shirley Adcox of Montesano, Wash.
A memorial service and scattering ceremony will be held in the summer of 2012 at Eielson Air Force Base. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Friends and family may contact Suzi Pearson at (907) 229-8971 for information.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Fairbanks Funeral Home & Crematory.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for David Pearson
Tammy Polansky
July 1, 2011
Dad, you were a blessing when you came into our lives and made us a family! You will dearly be missed as my loving, kind, and patient father, and as my boys biggest sports fan! And I know Eielson will miss your familiar and friendly face too. You'll be in my heart forever and I love and miss you so much already! I'll always be your #3.
George & Mary Earp
June 21, 2011
Betty, Suzi and family,
We were saddened to hear of Dave's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bill & Darcy Neth
June 12, 2011
To the Pearson Family
Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to each member of your family. May each of you find peace within your heart with the many wonderful memories of your special times with the ones you love.
Gary Cole
June 10, 2011
To Dave's family. I met Dave his first day in Spearfish High School. He was the new kid and Spearfish was not welcoming to new people. I gave him a ride home and told him about the Spearfish Dances and Bow Hunting. He could not bow hunt because he didn't have a bow. We fixed that with one of my old ones. Wandering the hills looking for deer in the fall and hunting the wilds of the Spearfish Dance Hall on friday nights bunt up the balance of high school. Life just kind of ran out for us in Spearfish and the service seemed like the way out with out running out. We did Basic together and then the details of living in the 1960's got in the way. Dave has always been a part of my life through the stories I tell about him and growing up wild and proud in the Hills...in town Dave did nothing to embarrass his family but he ran with me and I drank, smoked, chased wild women and fought in a hundred mile radius of Spearfish...Dave was my running mate. I miss the kids we were.
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Kelly Tompkins-Hooper
June 10, 2011
Suzi and family,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your dad, but I rejoice for him as I know in heaven there is no cancer. I will be praying for your family in the days to come.
Richard and Beverly Ross
June 7, 2011
Betty, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Brenda Pearson
June 7, 2011
I am so proud and privledged to have called this man my "Dad", I love him so much, and even his passing can not diminish that love. Our whole family will miss his presence, but he will always be in our hearts. I love you Daddy!
Phil Lee
June 7, 2011
Dear Pearson Family,
I would like to express my deepest condolences to your family. I met Dave on a fire alarm related project in 1999 and had the pleasure to work with him on many since then. He would always ask how my twin boys were doing. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Phil Lee & Family
Wanda Newton
June 6, 2011
Dear ones,
I had the pleasure of working with Dave on EAFB. The first time I met him, I named him "Charming and Alarming Dave Pearson" because I was new and had a hard time remember who was who on base. I never called him any other name, and he'd smile every time he'd hear it. Dave was great to work with, always helpful and protected this base as it were his own home.
For those who loved him, I cannot imagine the grief you have already suffered, watching him lose the battle. I am so sorry you had that experience. I have grieved his absence in our workplace for over a year. It wasn't just Dave who had the cancer, but all of you. I know you all suffered with each procedure, each struggle. He had you by his side, and that is a very difficult position to hold. It's all you can do to hold yourself together. So for now I pray you treat yourself gently, love yourself generously, and take all the time you need to restore your well being. Mention his name daily, talk about the silly things he did, the things he made, the cars he drove..and how you will miss the man he was before cancer claimed him. I will continue to hold you in my thoughts, as you recover. Peace to you. W~
Wanda Newton,
354th CES/CEPM
Eielson AFB, Alaska
June 5, 2011
Dear Pearson Family,
We are so sorry to hear about your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerely,
The Zeisel Family
June 5, 2011
Dear Tammy & the Whole Pearson Gang, so sorry to read of your Dad's passing. I will be praying for your family during this time.
Sincerely,
Denise (Blevins) Thacker
Bill Orth III
June 5, 2011
My condolences to Betty and the entire Pearson family. Dave epitomized the definition of a Good Neighbor. Dave was always willing to lend a hand, a tool, or advise. In almost 23 years of sharing a property line, we never exchanged a cross word! I will miss his friendly “ Whatcha doing Bill” as I start a new project in the yard, work on the house, or perform maintenance on one of my vehicles. In a state where privacy is a valued commodity, he never crossed the boundary from helpful to busybody. I will miss talking about our golf games, or talking while our grandchildren played in each others yard. The world was definitely a better place with Dave in it, and his presence will be missed, but certainly not forgotten
Dave and Dennis
Dennis Polansky
June 5, 2011
Dave was a great role model for his children. He enjoyed watching his kids and grandkids play sprots. We really enjoyed golfing over the years together. We miss you Dave.
Jeff Turkel
June 5, 2011
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Pearson family. I worked many projects with Dave when I was a fire inspector at Eielson in the 90's and always enjoyed our chats. Blessings to you all.
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