Loren Pierce

Loren married Betty J. Treat of Wilsonville, Nebraska in 1952. They had two children, Dale Pierce of Aurora, Colorado and Karen Klekner of Eagan, Minnesota.

Loren graduated from Wauneta High School in 1948. Because of his father’s illness, he ran his father’s business selling gasoline and other fuels to farmers and other customers during the last two years of high school and continued until after his father’s death in 1949. He then attended Kearney State Teacher’s college for one year and worked in a clothing store and farm implement store for a short time before enlisting in the U. S. Air Force in 1951. After discharge from the Air Force in 1955, he attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, receiving a B. S. degree in Accounting in 1957.

He was employed as an Accountant by the Dow Chemical Company in 1957 at Golden, Colorado where he later was transferred to Midland, Michigan, Hong Kong and back to Midland, Michigan where he retired as the Corporate Director of Compensation in 1992, having been employed by Dow for thirty five years. While employed with The Dow Chemical Company he also earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado in 1969.

In 1995, Loren and Betty moved to Westminster, Colorado. Betty preceded him in death as did his grandson, Patrick Pierce, both in 2001. He married Beverley J. Burkett of Midland, Michigan, in 2003. They made their home in Westminster, Colorado until his death. His (step) son, Mark Burkett, preceded him in death in 2015. Surviving Loren is his wife, Beverley, Gary Pierce (Carol) and his half brother, Bob Pierce, his son, Dale Pierce (Dee), his daughter, Karen Klekner (Dan), his grandchildren, Mark Klekner (Nicole), Brian Klekner (Caitlin), Andrea Klekner, and great grandson, Evan Klekner. Also (step) children, Linda Gifford, Carol Deniston (John), Paul Burkett (Lynda), and Larry Burkett (Judy) and 11 (step) grandchildren and 18 (step) great-grandchildren.

Loren was a member of the Arvada Church of God in Arvada, Colorado. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of Columbia Lodge No. 14 in Boulder, Colorado, since 1959 where he was Worshipful Master in 1963. He was a Shriner, a member of El Jebel Shrine Temple and the Boulder Shrine Club. He belonged to Queen Esther #5, Order of the Eastern Star and was a Past Patron of that chapter. He was President of his homeowners’ association for nine years after his retirement. He enjoyed Shrine projects and activities, playing tennis, traveling and working on his computer.