63811_David R._Pierce
NORMAL, Ill. | David R. Pierce, 78, of Normal, Ill., passed away at 11:58 p.m. on Thursday, (Jan. 16, 2014) at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal Ill.
A private family graveside service inurnment will be held Wednesday at East Lawn Cemetery, Bloomington, Ill. The Rev. Don Jones will officiate. There will be no visitation.
Arrangements are being handled by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, Ill.
David was born March 27, 1935, in Fullerton, Calif., the son of David Rand and Emma Mae Tousley Pierce. He married Maureen L. Pearce on June 3, 1956, in Bethany, Oak.
He is survived by his wife; 3 children — Randy (Peggy) Pierce, Grimes, Teri Pierce, Lawrence, Kan., and Mike (Deb) Pierce, Normal, Ill.; 4 grandchildren — Jon (Tanya) Pierce, Jennifer (Tom) Spurgin, Andy Pierce, and Rachel Pierce; 2 step-grandchildren — Will and Joey Schroeder; and 5 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents and 1 infant son.
David was raised in Oklahoma and graduated from Bethany High School in 1952. After serving in the USMC, including one year in the 7th Marines in Korea, David pursued his goal of becoming an educator by achieving an associates, baccalaureate, two masters, and a doctorate degree in education and mathematics. The Ph.D. was from Purdue University. He also received two honorary doctorates.
His career was primarily in community college education with leadership positions in CA, IL, IA, VA, and DC. His principal leadership roles were as president of North Iowa Area Community College, president of the Illinois Community College Board, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, and president of the American Association of Community Colleges. He also played key leadership roles in founding Waubonsee Community College in IL and Golden West College in CA.
David was a member of the Normal First United Methodist Church and was active in Kiwanis during prior locations, having served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis District. He also served on the Board of Governors of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, as chairman of a savings and loan board, vice-chairman of Phi Theta Kappa — a community college honor society, and chairman of the National Institute for Higher Education Policy in Washington, D.C. For his contributions as Ppesident of North Iowa Area Community College the Pierce Administration Building on campus was named after him.
He will be dearly missed.