Gene Pierceall

HANNIBAL, MO. -- Gene Pierceall, 88, of Hannibal, passed away at 6:45 a.m. Thursday (Aug. 13, 2015) at Hannibal Regional Hospital surrounded by his family.

He was born March 16, 1927, in Monroe City, a son of Emmett and Mary Madden Pierceall. He married Beverly Flick on Aug. 9, 1952, in Hannibal. She survives.

Mr. Pierceall graduated from McCooey High School in Hannibal in 1945. He attended St. Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., and Hannibal La Grange College. He graduated from Barber College in Kansas City, Mo.

Following his marriage to Beverly, they moved to Kansas City, where he worked in a corporate office of the American Hereford Association, and in the office of the American Bakeries Company. He returned to Hannibal in 1958, where he established a barber business in Hannibal, which he ran for over 20 years.

In 1978, he became an ordained Permanent Deacon in the Catholic church, after which he was associated with St. Elizabeth Hospital as Director of pastoral care for 10 years. He then served as pastoral associate of Holy Family Church in Hannibal for five years.

Mr. Pierceall was a very active member of Holy Family Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of Hannibal Regional Hospital Auxiliary and past member of the Hannibal Jaycees.

He loved traveling, playing bridge, reading, music and dancing. Gene treasured time with friends, family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, survivors include four sons, Craig Pierceall (Debbie Bryant) of Quincy, Ill., Stephen Pierceall (Carmen Bone), Timothy Pierceall (Debra) and Patrick Pierceall, all of Hannibal; two special daughters-in-law, Cathy Pierceall of Quincy and Ann Pierceall of Hannibal; a brother, Father Pat Pierceall, of Hannibal; six grandchildren, Mandy Christopher, Katie Rice, Scott Pierceall, Cecelia Pierceall, T.C. Pierceall and Lauren Pierceall; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Pierceall was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Christopher Thomas Pierceall; and a brother, Harold Pierceall.

SERVICES: A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Hannibal. Father Mike Quinn will officiate and Father Pat Pierceall will concelebrate. Burial will be in Holy Family Catholic Cemetery in Hannibal.

Pallbearers will be Ron Pierceall, Jim Pierceall, John Pierceall, Scott Pierceall, Jason Rice and Mark Fohey. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Beard, Don Harvey, Bill Willett, Spike Ehrhardt, Lynn Anderson and members of the Knights of Columbus.

VISITATION: 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. at the church.

MEMORIALS: Holy Family Catholic Church in care of the James O'Donnell Funeral Home.

ARRANGEMENTS: James O'Donnell Funeral Home, Hannibal.

WEBSITE: www.jamesodonnellfuneralhome.com.

Condolences may be expressed online at whig.com.