Donald Gene Pierce

Santa Clara, Utah - Donald Gene Pierce, 86 years old passed away on April 23, 2025. He was born on August 14, 1938 in Russell, Iowa to Everett Pierce and Ethel Avis Elliott. Don married Peggy Joy Grimm on June 25, 1958 in Osceola, Iowa. They were sealed together for all time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.

Raised in Iowa and a 1958 graduate of Osceola High School, Don was a star athlete and popular student. After marrying Peggy, Don worked a myriad of jobs in an attempt to better both he and Peggy's lives. During this time, they moved often to new cities across the Midwest and West all in pursuit of better pay and opportunities for advancement.

Don graduated from the University of Idaho with a BS in Education (honors) in 1971 and Texas A & M University with a Masters Degree in Education in 1972. He pursued PhD studies at Texas A & M University.

After completing his studies Don began a career as an educator, a role he deeply enjoyed. He was ultimately hired as the Executive Director of Enable Industries, a sheltered workshop for disabled adults, in Ogden Utah. In this role Don made dramatic improvements to the lives of the adults in the workshop. He shifted the focus of Enable Industries from warehousing handicapped adults to providing them with meaningful work for which they were paid a fair wage. His work was so innovative and successful that he won the Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year award in 2002.

Don was an avid outdoorsman who relished his time in the mountains and deserts. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating. Many happy family memories revolve around vacations at Flaming Gorge and other waters where much time was spent waterskiing, fishing, exploring and laughing around a campfire.

A kind man who lived by the Golden Rule, Don was known for his love of people and his desire to learn whatever he could about the lives of everyone with whom he came in contact. He was revered by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving Don are his wife of 66 years, Peggy Grimm Pierce, his daughters, Pam Lakomski (Alan), Shelley Carlson (Bob) and Stacy Garner (Bart), his 7 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Preceding Don in death were his parents, Everett & Ethel Pierce and his brothers Gary, Jerry and Ricky Pierce.

The family deeply thanks IHC, the oncology nursing staff, Drs. Wilcox, Rose, and Carter and the Hospice team for their excellence, compassionate care and assistance.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, UT. An evening viewing will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at Spilsbury Mortuary from 5 to 7 pm. Funeral services will be held the following day, Friday, May 2, 2025 at 11:00 am with a viewing prior to the service from 9:30-10:30 am at the 8th Ward LDS Chapel in Santa Clara. Interment will be in the Ogden City Cemetery on future date.

Condolences and Memories can be shared with the family online at www.Spilsburymortuary.com