Pearson Jr., James 'Jim' Walter

James “Jim” Walter Pearson Jr., 82, passed away in his home in Cedar Rapids, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010, following an illness.

Jim was born Sept. 9, 1928, in Chattanooga, Tenn., to James and Blanche Pearson. He married his loving wife, Beverly, on Jan. 20, 1952, in Ames, Iowa. Together, they had five children: Dennis Pearson of Boulder, Colo., Donald (Linda) Pearson of Cedar Rapids, William (Lissa) Pearson of Cedar Rapids, Kimberley Melheim of Cedar Rapids and Jeffrey (Shelly) Pearson of Marion.

Jim was a proud member of the Marine Corps and served from 1946 to 1949. He served with the Ames Police Department for two years before moving to Cedar Rapids in 1967, when he began working for Collins Radio as a security guard. Jim then worked at FMC and eventually retired from Rockwell Collins, where he had returned to work as a security guard.

 Jim enjoyed coaching Little League and Babe Ruth in Hiawatha for several years. He was a proud member of the VFW and Marine Corps League.

Jim is survived by his wife; five children; eight grandchildren, Corey (Jenny), Nikki, Eric, Taylor, Mitch and Drew Pearson, Chelsea (Jason) Preston and Lyndsey (Adam) Wright; three stepgrandchildren, Zach, Blake and Sydney Nielsen; seven great-grandchildren, Nathan and Hannah Pearson, Rex and Nash Preston and Max, Kooper and Jett Wright; and two sisters, Betty Westmoreland of Murphy, N.C., and Sarah Jo Swann of Chattanooga, Tenn.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents.

Jim enjoyed golfing, baseball and trips to the casino. More so, he was a family man who enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was always making up games and coming up with new ways to entertain everyone. He had a sense of humor unlike anyone else, which was appreciated by everyone. Anyone who met Jim fell in love with him immediately. He was an incredibly lovable man with a heart of gold.

A visitation for Jim will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10. Funeral services, delivered by Scott Shanahan, will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories the following morning, Saturday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m.

The family would like to thank St. Luke's Hospice, especially Jim's wonderful nurse Susan, for giving him such wonderful care during his final days.

“To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.” - Thomas Campbell

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