Daily Chronicle Dekalb/Sycamore, Ill.
Monday, Nov 21, 1994

 

Warren A. Pearson

Warren A. Pearson, 69, of Sycamore, died Sunday, Nov. 20, 1994, at St. Anthony’s Medical Center in Rockford. He was born Dec. 10, 1923, in Sycamore, the son of G. Albert and Fern (Furman) Pearson.  He married Gloria Lehman on Dec. 26, 1952, in Elgin. He was a farmer in Mayfield Township all his life.  He lived on a centennial farm. He was a Sycamore school bus driver for 15 years.  He was member of the Salem Lutheran Church, the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, North Grove School Association and formerly a Scout master.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria of Sycamore; one son, Bill (Elaine) Pearson of Fort Wayne, Ind.; three daughters, Chris (Joe) Romans of Tuscumbia, Ala., Janet Pearson of Palatine and Barbara (Victor) Allen of Winfield; one brother, Richard (Mary Ann) Pearson of Elk Grove Village and five grandchildren, Neal, Nathan, Craig, Justin and Britta Pearson and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mila Olson.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday at the Salem Lutheran Church with the Rev. Gary B. Tyden officiating.  Burial will be at the Elmwood Cemetery.  Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m., Friday at the Quiram - Sycamore Funeral Home.

 

Daily Chronicle DeKalb/Sycamore, Ill, Tuesday, November 22, 1994

Warren Pearson was inspiration to lives he touched - By Gennie Siwicki, Staff writer

He was the smile beneath Santa’s beard at Henderson’s Department Store.  He was the nice man behind the school bus wheel for Sycamore school children for 15 years.  He was the tour guide for anyone who wanted to drive across the country or take a trip. Warren Pearson will be missed.

Warren, 69, was a lifelong Sycamore resident who died Sunday, Nov. 20, at St. Anthony’s Medical Center in Rockford. He attended North Grove School, the one-room schoolhouse that is now a historical site in sycamore.  He went on to become a member and president of the North Grove School Association. Jerry Henderson, president of Henderson’s Department Store in Sycamore, said Warren “will be greatly missed by all whose life he inspired.”  Warren served as Santa Claus for many years at the store.

The Rev. Gary Ryden, pastor at Salem Lutheran Church in Sycamore, said Warren had “always been especially interested in the youth.  He was always around to drive us around for trips and show us the sights.  He drove us to Minnesota for a canoe trip, to Nebraska, Missouri, Indiana - and it never mattered how long we were gone.  He just loved to be around kids and have them enjoy nature as much as he did.” Ryden said Warren also showed slides of his many trips to the children, the Sunday School classes, and adults. “Driving and slides. That was Warren.  He really added a lot to whatever was going on.  Not just for church, but for everything.” Ryden said. Bill Pearson, Warren’s son, said his father always enjoyed hosting hayrides for the children.

School groups, scouts or church youth groups came out for hayrides.  He loved doing that.” Bill said.  “He also loved to take people on trips.  He went to Alaska twice, Hawaii a couple of times.  He just loved to travel.” Cecil Willis, of Sycamore, travelled with Warren on a trip to Alaska recently, and said “the community has lost a lost when it lost Warren.  He’s one in a million.” “He was always looking for something to do for someone else.  You won’t find a nicer guy anywhere,” Willis said. “A lot of people sit in their older days and think about all the things they wished they would have done.  Warren did them.” Bill said his father also loved to farm, and did so his entire life, living on a centennial farm.  Warren was a member of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau.

Max Brantner, who served as assistant superintendent and transportation director for Sycamore schools at the same time Warren was a bus driver, said Warren “was a very fine human being.  He was very generous, and very good at associating with other people. “He loved children. His death is certainly a loss to the community for all the services he provided.  He always went ou of his way to help people.”

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Quiram-Sycamore Funeral Home.  Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Salem Lutheran Church with the Pastor Gary Ryden, officiating.  Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Sycamore.