1946 - Nels Pierson

Tampico Tornado, Thursday, February 14, 1946

NELS PIERSON PASSED AWAY

Nels PIERSON, a well known and highly respected business man of Tampico passed away at his home Tuesday morning, Feb. 12. He had been in poor health for the past year but had been ill for only the past two months. He was 63 years old.

Funeral services will be held at the Parent funeral chapel Thursday afternoon at two o'clock with Rev. Vernon GIBB, pastor of the Baptist church, officiating. Burial will be in the Tampico Memorial cemetery.

Mr. PIERSON was born at Malmo, Sweden, October 15, 1882 (note: WWI Draft registration & his naturalization papers state dob as Oct. 15, 1881) and at the age of five came to this country with the family ans settled in Perry, Iowa, where his father passed away. In 1896 he, his mother, his brother and sister, returned to Sweden.

In infancy he was baptized and later confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Sweden.

While living in Sweden he learned the blacksmith trade which he followed his entire lifetime. He returned to the United States at the age of 21 and worked in different cities throughout the country until 1913 when he came to Tampico from Canton, Ill, and established a business here.

On Sept. 20, 1916 he married Sigrid OLSON  and to this union two children were born. Nadine and Nels Leo.

He is preceded in death by his father, mother, brother and sister.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, his daughter, Mrs. Gene MACK of Chicago, and his son, Nels Leo in the U. S. Navy; his sister, Mrs. Ida PIERSON in Malmo, Sweden, and nephews and nices.

He was a member of the Welder's Association and the Tampico high school board of education and a director of the Tampico Exchange since it was organized.

 **********************************************

Submitted by Melva L. Taylor

The Sterling Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois

February 15, 1946 - Wednesday, pg 10

NELS  PIERSON

Rites for Nels Pierson, Blacksmith in Tampico For 33 Years, on Thursday

Funeral services for Nels Pierson, 63, Tampico blacksmith for 33 years, will be conducted at the Parent Funeral Home in Tampico at 2 pm. Thursday. The Rev. Vernon Gibb, pastor of the Baptist Church will officiate.  Committal will be in Tampico Memorial Cemetery.  Tampico business houses will close from 1:30 to 3 p.m. during the rites.

Mr. Pierson passed away at his home Tuesday.  He had been ailing for some time and seriously ill for two months.  Mr. Pierson was born at Malmo, Sweden, Oct. 15, 1882, the son of Perry and Hannah Pierson. He came to the United States with his parents when he was five years old. His father passed away while the family lived at Perry, Iowa, and the family returned to Sweden in 1896.  Mr. Pierson was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Sweden.  He returned to the United States at the age of 21 years and followed the vocation of blacksmithing which he learned in Sweden. He followed this trade in various cities and went to Tampico in 1913 from Canton. 

He married Sigrid Olson at Tampico Sept. 20, 1916.  He was a member of the Welders' Associaiotn, the Tampico Businessmen's Association and served at one time on the Tampico Township High School Board of Education. 

Surviving are his wife, two children, Mrs. Gene (Nadine) Mack and Nels Leo Pierson, serving in the Navy , and one sister, Mrs. Ida Pierson, living in Sweden. He was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.