Richard J. Pearson

Richard Jenkins Pearson, age 85, passed away Thursday, March 7th at Renaissance of Hilldale. He was born April 3, 1938, the only child of Ralph Jenkins Pearson and Isabel (Schieg) Pearson. Dick grew up in Madison, attending Highlands Mendota Beach Grade School, West High School, and University of Wisconsin, Madison. 

During high school at Madison West, he was part of the 1956 championship track team, president of the Luther Memorial Church and State of Wisconsin Luther Leagues.  

Upon graduating from high school, he received a Navy NROTC scholarship to UW-Madison. During college, he truly enjoyed his performances in Haresfoot Club at UW. He was a member of the Mu Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, while earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering and BS in Naval Science and was proud of his drill team experience.  

He met the love of his life, Merry Noel (Bubolz) Pearson at Memorial Union. After graduating from college in 1961 his active-duty service began in San Diego. That left Noel to plan their upcoming wedding details without help from cell phones or the internet, and it worked out, just like their 61-year marriage. Dick planned the honeymoon while stationed in Hawaii and Noel planned the wedding-a true partnership.

He served in the Navy from 1961-1964, assigned to LST 848 (Jerome County) and LST 836, (USS Holmes County) As Engineering Officer aboard the USS Holmes County, LST 836, his ship was awarded the RED “E” for engineering excellence, the first time ever. The “E” was proudly displayed on the stacks of the ship. When his ship was awarded the same honor the second year, a tally mark was added after the “E”.

After leaving the navy, he joined the Trane Company as a sales engineer from 1964 until 1969. Then he became a partner at Heapy Engineering in Dayton, Ohio until 1986. He moved back to his boyhood home and established Pearson Engineering in 1986, an HVAC engineering consulting firm. In 1997, he received the University of Wisconsin College of Engineering Distinguished Service Award in recognition of eminent professional services. He achieved national acclaim for innovative, energy-efficient, and cost-efficient air conditioning. He was also a member of   ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers), and a Paul Harris Rotary Fellow. He was chairman of the Rotary Scholarship Committee for many years. In 2011, upon his retirement, Pearson Engineering continued under the ownership of Brian Basken, and this was a source of pride for Dick. 

He started taking accordion lessons from Rudy Burkhalter when he was 8 years old and became a teacher for Rudy when he was in high school. He performed around the state. After 60 years of not playing, he started playing again, mastering a song Ozark Jubilee which he performed on several occasions this past year.  

He loved all Badger sports and was notorious for wearing his big red Stetson hat with the white “W”, and red pants with the 35 (!) embroidered white W’s, and his Battleship Wisconsin belt.  Big moments in his life were aboard the USS Wisconsin BB64 for its final sail into Norfolk, and riding on the Bucky Wagon.

Dick loved to sail anywhere, anytime. He was particularly happy to have been able to be on several legs of an-around-the-world sailing trip with Nick Ellison. Fiji, New Caledonia, Australia, and Mediterranean cities were some of many ports of call. He loved sailing in the Sea of Abaco. He also enjoyed the many years of houseboating at Norris Lake, Tennessee, with various friends, neighbors, and particularly his fellow naval officers from his San Diego days and their families. He had several projects in Hawaii, and used to joke that when Noel went along with him, he would work enough hours to earn what she was spending as a tourist. 

Dick’s family home was built in 1938, the year he was born, on land that had been in the Pearson family since 1853. He loved showing photos of the cows drinking out of Spring Harbor and telling people that when he was in first grade, there was a dairy farm “up the hill” by the house where his father was born. His semi-annual “pier reviews” when piers were put in and taken out were a lot of fun for many friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Brats on the grill were the menu of the day. He loved to talk and talk he did. He had a story to tell about almost any subject that would come up. He put his heart, soul, and expertise into building our new home in 2005. It is truly a remarkable home and everything we ever dreamed of. As of March 2023, Dick and Noel moved into Renaissance Senior Living. Dick loved the people he met and enjoyed all the music and entertainment provided.

He was a 17-year prostate cancer survivor, thanks to the Carbone Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Isabel. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Merry Noel (Bubolz) Pearson, his children Catherine Anne Pearson and Richard (Rick) J. Pearson Jr., and a special granddaughter Nadia Katherine Pearson. He loved his children so much and was very proud of their accomplishments. He was fiercely proud of his granddaughter and always had stories to share.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Carbone Center, https://www.uwhealth.org/locations/uw-carbone-cancer-center-228 Covenant Presbyterian Church, https://www.covenantmadison.org/ and Dane County Humane Society https://www.giveshelter.org/.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 21st, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 326 S. Segoe Road. Family will greet friends from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Military honors and a luncheon will follow. 

Dick's service will be live streamed through the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@CovenantPresbyterianChurch

As Dad would always say upon parting, “Say good night, Dick.” And everyone would always laugh and respond, “Good night, Dick”.

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406