MADISON - Ivar E. Pearson, 91, of Madison, went home to be with his Lord Jesus Christ, on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, in Bangor, surrounded by his family. He was born May 7, 1927 in Merrimack, Mass., the son of Ivar E. Pearson and Sophie (Christenson) Pearson. He served in the U.S. Navy, during WWII.Ivar married Frances Rowbotham on May 27, 1978, in Athens, Maine in their orchard, under the apple blossoms. He managed and supervised American Industry Inc. in Athens, for 30 years. They made bowling pins, square dowels for vacuum cleaner heads and then he worked for S.D. Warren, in Skowhegan, until his retirement. He was a Past Master of the Masons. He loved to fly a Sky Hawk 172 out of Pittsfield. He got his pilots license in the mid-1960s. He was on the planning board for the Athens Elementary School and was very instrumental in its completion. He loved spending time with his children building their camp at Lily Bay on Moosehead Lake and loved to fish and hunt. He especially enjoyed the annual fishing trips with his sons, grandsons and great-grandsons. In later years, he enjoyed more time on Moosehead with his new wife and her children. The family has many fond memories of their times together, there. Ivar was a gentle and kind man.He is survived by his wife, Fran, of 40 ½ years, of Madison; his children, Alan Pearson and his wife, Alice of Hampden, Mark Pearson and his wife, Becky of Hartland, Susan McDonald and her husband, Alex "Mac" Fitzgerald of Georgia, Jerry Pearson and his wife, Deb of Standish, Ben Blackwell of Madison and his companion, Karen Demo of Canaan, Linda Lambert and her husband, Paul of Lewiston, Heidi Hainsey and her husband, Mark of Fredericksburg, Va; his sister, Linea Foss of Hobe Sound, Fla. and Skowhegan; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; one son, Trooper Michael Pearson; and his sister, Ruth Sussie.A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 17, at 2 p.m. at the Bingham Congregational Church, Meadow St., Bingham. A spring burial will be held at the Mount Rest Cemetery in Athens. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Avenue, Skowhegan. Donations may be made in Ivar's memory, to Boyntons Greenhouse P.O. Box 278 Skowhegan, ME 04976 or call them at (207) 474-2892
