Earl Ward Pierce, of Callaway, Nebraska passed away January 10, 2020 at the age of 93.
Born on October 19, 1926, in Albion, Nebraska. Earl served in the Army and Navy and fought in World War II at Normandie and Iwo Jima. After WWII, Earl volunteered and served in the Army Airborne during the Korean War, and then some years later volunteered for service in Vietnam. Age and health catches us all and Earl was not accepted.
While serving in the military, Earl married Bette Bohnet and fathered 3 daughters, Lynn, Lee, and Stephany. After raising their 3 daughters in California, they relocated to Illinois where he worked as a salesman for Wheelabrator. Eventually, they relocated to Callaway, Nebraska where they bought the Callaway Market which they operated for some years. Earl and Bette founded Cal-Mar; a company that manufactured bars and barstools, which still exist in many establishments in Nebraska as well as having invented, patented, and manufacturing The Post-Jack, a fence post remover. He was an ever-constant craftsman and businessman. If you asked Earl where he lived, he would happily tell you "the penthouse suite on Podunk Ave." Of course, Earl had a hand in naming the street. After a battle with cancer, Bette passed away in 1981.
Earl found companionship with Elaine Nelson of Callaway, NE and for many years and they had a number of adventures, most commonly on Earl's Honda Gold Wing, which Elaine was always game for.
Anyone who met Earl, would not forget their encounter with him, he was charismatic, ornery, and always liked to have fun and laugh. For that, Earl will be remembered and greatly missed.
A story Earl's nephew, Todd Bresee told the family after his passing: When Earl was a young man, in his teenage years he served in the U.S Navy during World War II and found himself driving a landing craft to deliver Marines to a south pacific island called Iwo Jima. If you don't know about Iwo Jima, you have at least seen one of the most iconic photos of the 20th century, US Marines raising a flag at Iwo Jima on Mount Suribachi. That was "Iwo"…as the veterans would call it. I once asked Earl how he felt at Iwo Jima; he said he was scared to death.
Earl would tell this story that my father, Melvin Bresee had a hand in, he served on the draft board in Burke SD, and thought it would be fun to send Earl a draft notice while Earl was in the Army and stationed in Korea. When Earl got his draft notice he went to his CO (Commanding Officer) and said, "I have to go home", his CO said "Why?" Earl said, "Because I got drafted". Needless to say, that didn't go over very well with his CO.
Earl was one of the last of a generation that we had the privilege to know who grew up with the hardship of the depression and came of age with service. It was a great generation indeed.
Good night Earl. I think this time the big CO upstairs will approve your orders to go home.
Earl is survived by his daughters Lynn and Lee, and his 3 grandchildren, Erik, Shelby and Ashley and his 4 great grandchildren, Summer, Wyland, Kellan, and Stella.
Services: A celebration of life at Shotgun Annie's Saloon in Callaway, NE will be held on Friday, February 7th from 4pm to 6pm. Come by and have a drink to toast Earl.
A funeral service with veteran honors will be held at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, South Dakota on Saturday, February 8, at 2pm.