Wierson, The Rev. Stanley Stewart

The Rev. Stanley Stewart Wierson, 74, of Marion, died Friday, June 3, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, after a brief illness. Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at First United Methodist Church in Marion, by the Rev. Mike Morgan and Dr. Brent Ward. Family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, and two hours before the service at the church. All pastors attending the funeral are requested to bring a robe for the processional and their red stole. Following the funeral service, refreshments will be served at the church. Immediately following fellowship, family and friends are invited to a prayer service at Stan's final resting place, Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.

Survivors include two brothers, Dr. Phillip W. Wierson and wife Dr. Carolyn Wierson of Atlanta, Ga., and Paul Wierson of Story City; nephew, Ray Wierson and wife Jan of Davenport; niece, Dr. Michelle Wierson and daughter Taylor; nephew, Scott Wierson and wife Deb and children, Philip, Haley and Hannah, all of Atlanta; great-nephew, Scott Wierson of Davenport; great-niece, Jennifer Smith and husband Dr. Lee Smith and children, Cali, Jaxon and Camden of Dubuque; and great-nephew, Jeff Wierson and wife Kate and children, Makylah, Kaelsten and Taelyn of West Des Moines.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Jack Wierson.

Stan was born April 12, 1937, the son of John and Celia (Henderson) Wierson in Story City, Iowa. He attended and graduated from Story City High in 1955.

Pastor Stan was a graduate of Luther College in Decorah.   He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison to further his studies in public school education and attended summer annual pastor's school at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. He taught school at Desoto Union High School in Desoto, Wis., for 15 years. While teaching instrumental and vocal music, he touched the lives of many high school and junior high students. He felt teaching was more than just subject matter and became a counselor to many aspiring musicians. 

Pastor Wierson was also an organist and choir master at First United Methodist Church in La Crosse, Wis., for four years. Also while in Wisconsin, he served on the regional board of Western Wisconsin Educational Association. While teaching in Desoto he was a part time lay pastor in Bloom City, Gillingham and Woodstock Methodist churches near Richmond Center, Wis. 

Pastor Stan moved to Iowa to teach school at Kanawha Independent School District, while serving churches part time as a lay pastor at West Fork, Hansell United Methodist Church, Crystal Lake United Methodist Church, Buffalo Center/Wolden United Methodist Church.

Stan Wierson was ordained in June 1971 into the Iowa Conference of United Methodist Churches by Bishop James Thomas. Following his ordination, he served full time at Buffalo Center. Later Pastor Wierson was assigned as an associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Newton, where he served eight years. He moved to Carlisle United Methodist Church, where he served six years, and then was senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Marion, serving 13 years from which he retired in 2003. Following retirement he served as interim pastor for four churches in La Porte City, Walcott, Coggon and Anamosa.

As well as serving in these pastorates, Pastor Wierson also worked as an intern to Governor Terry Branstad for two years, serving on state boards of review, including Family, Youth and Children services, Juvenile Justice, and Foster Care. 

He was also a producer of 14 Christian rallies with Dale Evans Rogers Ministries. He had the honor of being the pastor of nine churches and teaching music to the youth of Wisconsin. Pastor Wierson received two major honors: Honorary Colonel of the Iowa State Militia (Iowa National Guard) and the Denman Evangelism award from the Iowa United Methodist Conference. 

Pastor Stan was founder and director of Summer Games International for 30 years through which he had the opportunity to lead thousands of Iowa youth into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Though never officially counted, a possibility of over 200 young women and men would consider Stan a part of recognizing their call to ministry, and will always be part of his legacy.

In later years when asked, “What is the most important memory you have of your ministry,”he smiled and said, “When I was ordained, Bishop Thomas answered that question for me, ‘O, just make a difference in a life,' and I pray that I did.”

To further Pastor Stan's legacy and vision of Summer Games International, an executive board has been formed to administer Summer Games scholarships. The family requests no flowers; instead a generous memorial gift be given to Summer Games International to perpetuate the Stan Wierson Camping Scholarship to an accredited Summer Games camping ministry and the Rev. Stan Wierson Seminary Scholarship to an approved seminary for further education for Master of Divinity. Memorials may be sent to Summer Games International, c/o Elaine Knudtson, 400 NW 14th St., Grimes, IA 50111.

The family and friends of Pastor Stan would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff of Mercy Medical Center, the Iowa Hospice Caretakers and the staff of Summit Point for their excellent care.

Please sign the online guest book for Pastor Stan at  under obituaries, or leave a memory on Facebook under Stanley Wierson.