Michael Ray Pierson

Though his passing leaves an immeasurable void, his family rejoices in knowing he is at peace in the presence of his Lord and Savior.

Mike was born on March 5, 1955, to Raymond and Lucia (Beveroth) Pierson, in Sterling, Illinois. He graduated from Sterling High School in 1973. He married Sally Bohlken on May 30, 1975. He later married Barbara Bays on June 22, 2019, in Rock Falls, Illinois, making her feel like a princess for the day, and a queen for all their days together. She was the love of his life.

Mike was a dedicated, hardworking man throughout his life. He began working on his family farm and went on to spend most of his career as a farm equipment mechanic. He also enjoyed working at Wilbert Vault Company in Sterling. He was a well-known scrap collector and never met a hunk of junk he didn’t find value in. Mike was patient and talented, able to fix just about anything. From broken hearts to broken harvesters, he was the man to call. After retiring from large equipment repair, he ran his own small engine repair business, traveling to garages, driveways and yards across the Sauk Valley, fixing lawn mowers and just about anything else in need of repair.

Mike’s greatest gift to this world is the love he poured into others. He was kind, honest to a fault, gentle, funny, and easy going. His generous and thoughtful nature was unshakable and unmatched. His smile could light up a room, and his laugh filled the cracks of any weary soul. His kind eyes and quiet reassurance made every person he met feel special, appreciated, understood, and loved.

Mike had a deep love for music and worship. He stood tall in the back row of the church choir at the Rock Falls United Methodist Church, where he enjoyed singing with his wife and daughter. He also loved singing karaoke, where many affectionately referred to him as ‘Big Mike’, ‘Josh Turner’, and ‘Johnny Cash’ because of his beautiful, deep voice.

Above all, Mike cherished his family. He loved his daughters more than anything and was endlessly proud of them and of his grandchildren. He was a devoted husband who loved his wife deeply.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Pierson; his daughters, Megan (Daniel) Huffman, and Melissa Pierson (William Utter); his brother, Curtis (Donna) Pierson, his sisters, Ingrid (Tim) Schalk, and Rhonda (Will) Baumgarten; his grandchildren Jacob and Emily Huffman, Alexandria Schick (Benjamin Jacobson), Alexander Pierson, Nicole Utter and Cale Utter, brother in law Steven Dawn Dirks, as well as his beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

Mike was preceded in death in by his parents, Raymond and Lucia Pierson; his parents in-law, Kenneth and Helen (Miller) Dirks; and one grandson, Jackson Lee Mayes.