Arthur Pierce

Arthur C. Pierce rejoined his beloved wife "Dottie" and son Warren on Tuesday, December 6, 2011, passing peacefully after a long and active life. Art, "Bud" to his wife and friends, was born January 27, 1921, in Muskegon, Michigan. A veteran of WWII, he served honorably in the US Army Air Corps. On July 13, 1946, he was united in marriage to Dorothy E. (Jankowski) Pierce. Art and Dorothy remained in Muskegon until moving to Racine, Wisconsin in 1960.

Art worked in the machine tool industry throughout his career, beginning as a tool designer at Frauenthal in Muskegon. In Racine, he handled sales and marketing management duties at Gorton Machine Company, and later at Kearney and Trecker/Cross Trecker in Milwaukee. He was an active member of the Sales and Marketing Executives of Milwaukee for many years prior to his retirement in 1986.

Art was a "city" boy, but Dorothy introduced him to an appreciation of the natural world that never left him. He loved the rugged mountains of the west, the sparkling fishing streams of Montana, the blue-green glaciers of Alaska, the stunning sunsets of Hawaii, and the simple forested walking paths of Johnson Park in Racine. Art developed his own "green thumb" and nurtured their beautiful home gardens to spring-through-fall brilliance.

Art was an accomplished amateur photographer and left us through pictures a record of a life fully lived and thoroughly enjoyed. He loved music and even into his later years was a member of the Hi-Lo Dance Club, twirling his glowing wife around the dance floor like they owned it. He never lost his fascination with flight and was a member of the EAA for many years.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, neighbor and friend, Art treated everyone with compassion and respect. He always made time to listen, play, hug, and teach. He will be dearly missed by his family: daughter Karen Semrau, son-in law Dennis Semrau, daughter in-law Catherine Pierce (Quale); grandchildren Kelli and Matthew Semrau, David Schroepfer, Jonathan Schatz and wife Theresa; Michelle Semrau and special friend June Spring, and his wonderful Racine neighbors. Reunited with his parents, wife and son, we know he will be watching over us in death as surely as he did in life.

A private memorial service will be held in the spring, the season he loved best. The family can be contacted through Cress Funeral Service. His family thanks his caregivers at Clare Bridge and Agrace HospiceCare for their amazing compassion and care in Art's last days. In lieu of gifts and flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, Agrace HospiceCare, or your favorite wilderness or wildlife conservation group.