Marshall W. Pierce

Marshall W. Pierce, age 92, of Decorah, Iowa, died Sunday, February 24, 2013 at Barthell O.E.S. Home in Decorah. Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, March 9, 2013 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Rev. Dr. Richard Simon Hanson and Rev. Chad Huebner officiating. Private Family Inurnment will be in the Burr Oak Cemetery in Burr Oak, Iowa, at a later date, with full Military Honors. Visitation begins on Saturday at 1:00 P.M., one hour before services, at the church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Marshall Wade Pierce was born January 11, 1921 in Burr Oak, Iowa, the son of Carl and Ethel (Wade) Pierce. He attended Decorah High School, where he met the love of his life, Irene Finberg. After graduating in 1939, he left for California to work for TWA, before being drafted into the Army Air Corps September 25, 1942. He was stationed in California during World War II. Marshall was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart, Irene G. Finberg on July 1, 1942 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah by Rev. T.A. Hoff. This union was blessed with two children: David and Nancy. After his honorable discharge on December 13, 1945, he began his career with Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. in Decorah, where he worked for 40 years as a lineman and office technician. He was an active member of Telephone Pioneers of America, V.F.W., Masons and First Lutheran Church. Marshall loved family gatherings, enjoyed Big Band music and dancing, and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan. He was kind, friendly and loved to laugh. Marshall died Sunday, February 24, 2013 at Barthell O.E.S. Home in Decorah at age 92. He had been a resident there since January 2011. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Irene on July 4, 2007, after 65 years of marriage; a brother, Merlyn Pierce, a sister, Marge Halse; and a nephew, Ron Halse. Marshall is survived by his son, David (Diane) of Wildwood, MO; his daughter, Nancy (David) Neuhring of Rockford, IL; three grandchildren: Jason (Tracy) Neuhring, Dawn (Mike) Martin and Dana (Brett) Muhlke; five great grandchildren: Samantha, Autumn, and Curtis Neuhring, Lauren Blair and Grace Martin; and a sister-in-law, Evelyn Pierce of Decorah. Memorials may be given in Marshall’s name to Barthell O.E.S. Home, 911 Ridgewood Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101.