John Pearson

After graduating from Denver University in 1954. Lieutenant Colonel Don Pearson took his infant son, Tim and his wife, Roberta to Aberdeen Maryland where he served as an instructor at the Army proving grounds. Their second son, John was born at a nearby hospital in Havre de Grace, Maryland on October 6, 1955. The first months of John's life were spent in a small apartment in officer's housing on the army base. At the conclusion of Don's active duty in 1956 the Pearson family loaded their car and a trailer and drove back to Denver. Like many Baby Boomers John grew up in neighborhoods teeming with children and attended schools bursting with students. In those days before video games, computers and cell phones children moved freely around the neighborhood in flexible groups. John, in the company of friends, cousins or brother, explored, and occasionally fell into, a nearby creek, played softball in vacant lots, sledded down the steep neighborhood streets and visited various homes for snacks. As a child John drew frequently. He sketched detailed portraits of airplanes, motorcycles, snowmobiles, cars, and sometimes people. His lifetime love of music also began when he was young. He listened to the top forty hits on his bedside radio and often took music with him on his transistor radio. To his mother's dismay his love of music did not translate to a desire to play the piano. She finally surrendered her attempts to get him to practice and bought him a guitar. John's love of this instrument endured. He collected and played guitars and other string instruments throughout his life. John had a keen sense of style. From an early age he enthusiastically embraced new fashion trends. He wore paisley shirts when they were hip, pulled on bell-bottoms in the 60s, bought a Nehru jacket after John Lennon made them popular and even owned a leisure suit before he came to his senses. After graduating from John F. Kennedy High School in 1973 John worked for a ceramic supply business. With this job came access to clay and a studio and a new outlet for his artistic talents. For several years he explored this medium. Some of his works still reside in the homes of family members. John became a fence-building contractor in the late 1970s. He was a skillful craftsman and his business thrived for several years. A wrist tired and sore from hammer swinging prompted him to look for a new career. Following in his father's footsteps John became a manufacture's representative. After he had demonstrated his sales ability working for another employer, John's father invited him to join his business in 1984. Pearson and Pearson flourished under the guidance of the two Pearsons. When Don retired in 1998 John took over the business. He continued to head the company until June 2009. John's two boys, Jay and Will and his stepdaughter, Julia were an important part of his life. His children were a source of solace and pride. He frequently pointed to his part in raising these successful young adults as his finest accomplishment. John will be remembered for his gentleness, adventurous spirit, engaging smile, unwavering devotion to his children and his love of people. His passing leaves an enormous void in the lives of those who knew and loved him, especially among his surviving family members. These include his sons, Jay and Will Pearson and their mother, Kathy Pearson; stepdaughter, Julia Dereere and her mother, Jeanne Severson; parents, Donald and Roberta Pearson; brother, Tim Pearson; sisters, Jean Stewart and Amy DiMarco; and two nieces and three nephews. A memorial service will be held Monday, March 29 at Saint Phillip and Saint James Episcopal Church, 2797 South Lowell Blvd., Denver, CO, at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow. Memorial donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity ( www.habitat.org or Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, GA 31709-34980)