Leland E. Pearson

Galva - Leland E. Pearson, 76, of Galva died at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27, 2006, at his home.

Funeral services will be on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. in the Rux Funeral Home, Galva. The Rev. James Hancock will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Galva Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded by the Galva Fusiliers. Memorials may be directed to the Kidney Foundation or to the Galva Park District.

He was born on Jan. 22, 1930, in rural Galva, the son of Nels and Frieda (Nelson) Pearson. He married Elva Mae Bargmann on April 7, 1961, in Davenport, Iowa. She preceded him in death on March 3, 1973.

Survivors include two daughters, Natalie (Mike) Fenneman of Iowa City, Iowa, and Pamela (Dean) Jones of Jacksonville, Fla.; three grandchildren, Andrew and Elena Fenneman and Michael Jones; one brother, Vernon Pearson of La Jolla, Calif.; and one sister, Arlene Cemeska of Chillicothe, Ill.

Also preceding him in death were his parents; three brothers, Willard, Ivan and Arthur; and one sister, Irene.

He was an Army veteran, serving during the Korean Conflict in the South Pacific.

He and his brother, Vernon, formed Pearson Bros. in Galva in 1961 and maintained that business until the early 1980s. He was the owner and operator of I.M.E. and Pearson American Machines and then L.M.T. in Galva until his death. Over the years, he had received numerous citations and awards for his patents and product innovations and was the subject of an industry wide publication for the companies' waste management products. As an industry leader in waste management products, he was instrumental in helping others develop companies and businesses associated with supplemental products worldwide.

This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left at www.ruxfuneralhome.com.