James was born in Springville, Iowa to Ralph Kay Pearson and Bertha L. Emmons.
James served in the U.S. Air Force and Iowa National Guard.
James was married to Patricia Johnson, and they had three children.
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Dr. James Edwin Pearson, 82, died Sunday, April 3, 2016, in Des Moines following an extended battle with Alzheimer’s. He leaves his wife of 42 years, Patricia Pearson; his children, Sharon Litchfield, Mark Pearson and Beth Coronelli; step children, Cindy Horn, Dave Johnson and Amy Keng; as well as 14 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Born in Springville, he was the son of Ralph and Bertha Pearson. Dr. Pearson attended Iowa State University. After graduating with a degree in agriculture, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a navigator and radar intercept officer flying in jet fighters. He later became involved in the Iowa National Guard, where he served until 1984, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
After his early service in the military, he returned to his family farm for a short time before attending Iowa State, where he graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine, and later went on to earn a master’s degree. After graduation, he worked in a veterinary practice in Fort Madison for several years. In 1968, Dr. Pearson started his career as a research virologist at National Animal Disease Center in Ames. He then went on to serve for three decades at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), also in Ames. In 1970, he became head of the avian, equine and ovine viruses section. He worked there until 1987, when he was named chief of the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory. He served as the director of NVSL from the mid to late-1990s. After retiring, he and his wife, Pat, moved to Paris, where he worked with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which focuses on the research, surveillance and control of animal diseases around the world. He headed the OIE Scientific and Technical Department and served as vice president of the OIE Standards Commission.
Dr. Pearson was truly committed and immersed himself in his work to safeguard animals against disease. With his focus on diagnosing diseases, he provided support for the Department of Agriculture’s and international animal-health efforts. He was widely recognized for his work, including as a world’s foremost authority on the diagnosis of the bird virus, Newcastle. Along with numerous other honors, he was recognized with 11 USDA awards, was presented the E.P. Pope Award for Excellence by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, and was a recipient of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Stange Award for Meritorious Service, the college’s highest honor for alumni. He also coauthored more than 115 publications.
Dr. Pearson was active in the Ames community and enjoyed leisure time with family and friends at Lake Panorama in Panora. He was a longtime member of the Ames Kiwanis Club and, with his wife, was active at Collegiate United Methodist Church.
A memorial funeral service will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, at Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine.
-obituary, Ames Tribune (Apr. 29, 2016)
James served in the U.S. Air Force and Iowa National Guard.
James was married to Patricia Johnson, and they had three children.
--------------------------------------------
Dr. James Edwin Pearson, 82, died Sunday, April 3, 2016, in Des Moines following an extended battle with Alzheimer’s. He leaves his wife of 42 years, Patricia Pearson; his children, Sharon Litchfield, Mark Pearson and Beth Coronelli; step children, Cindy Horn, Dave Johnson and Amy Keng; as well as 14 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Born in Springville, he was the son of Ralph and Bertha Pearson. Dr. Pearson attended Iowa State University. After graduating with a degree in agriculture, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a navigator and radar intercept officer flying in jet fighters. He later became involved in the Iowa National Guard, where he served until 1984, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
After his early service in the military, he returned to his family farm for a short time before attending Iowa State, where he graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine, and later went on to earn a master’s degree. After graduation, he worked in a veterinary practice in Fort Madison for several years. In 1968, Dr. Pearson started his career as a research virologist at National Animal Disease Center in Ames. He then went on to serve for three decades at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), also in Ames. In 1970, he became head of the avian, equine and ovine viruses section. He worked there until 1987, when he was named chief of the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory. He served as the director of NVSL from the mid to late-1990s. After retiring, he and his wife, Pat, moved to Paris, where he worked with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which focuses on the research, surveillance and control of animal diseases around the world. He headed the OIE Scientific and Technical Department and served as vice president of the OIE Standards Commission.
Dr. Pearson was truly committed and immersed himself in his work to safeguard animals against disease. With his focus on diagnosing diseases, he provided support for the Department of Agriculture’s and international animal-health efforts. He was widely recognized for his work, including as a world’s foremost authority on the diagnosis of the bird virus, Newcastle. Along with numerous other honors, he was recognized with 11 USDA awards, was presented the E.P. Pope Award for Excellence by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, and was a recipient of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Stange Award for Meritorious Service, the college’s highest honor for alumni. He also coauthored more than 115 publications.
Dr. Pearson was active in the Ames community and enjoyed leisure time with family and friends at Lake Panorama in Panora. He was a longtime member of the Ames Kiwanis Club and, with his wife, was active at Collegiate United Methodist Church.
A memorial funeral service will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, at Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine.
-obituary, Ames Tribune (Apr. 29, 2016)
James was born in Springville, Iowa to Ralph Kay Pearson and Bertha L. Emmons.
James served in the U.S. Air Force and Iowa National Guard.
James was married to Patricia Johnson, and they had three children.
--------------------------------------------
Dr. James Edwin Pearson, 82, died Sunday, April 3, 2016, in Des Moines following an extended battle with Alzheimer’s. He leaves his wife of 42 years, Patricia Pearson; his children, Sharon Litchfield, Mark Pearson and Beth Coronelli; step children, Cindy Horn, Dave Johnson and Amy Keng; as well as 14 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Born in Springville, he was the son of Ralph and Bertha Pearson. Dr. Pearson attended Iowa State University. After graduating with a degree in agriculture, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a navigator and radar intercept officer flying in jet fighters. He later became involved in the Iowa National Guard, where he served until 1984, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
After his early service in the military, he returned to his family farm for a short time before attending Iowa State, where he graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine, and later went on to earn a master’s degree. After graduation, he worked in a veterinary practice in Fort Madison for several years. In 1968, Dr. Pearson started his career as a research virologist at National Animal Disease Center in Ames. He then went on to serve for three decades at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), also in Ames. In 1970, he became head of the avian, equine and ovine viruses section. He worked there until 1987, when he was named chief of the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory. He served as the director of NVSL from the mid to late-1990s. After retiring, he and his wife, Pat, moved to Paris, where he worked with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which focuses on the research, surveillance and control of animal diseases around the world. He headed the OIE Scientific and Technical Department and served as vice president of the OIE Standards Commission.
Dr. Pearson was truly committed and immersed himself in his work to safeguard animals against disease. With his focus on diagnosing diseases, he provided support for the Department of Agriculture’s and international animal-health efforts. He was widely recognized for his work, including as a world’s foremost authority on the diagnosis of the bird virus, Newcastle. Along with numerous other honors, he was recognized with 11 USDA awards, was presented the E.P. Pope Award for Excellence by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, and was a recipient of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Stange Award for Meritorious Service, the college’s highest honor for alumni. He also coauthored more than 115 publications.
Dr. Pearson was active in the Ames community and enjoyed leisure time with family and friends at Lake Panorama in Panora. He was a longtime member of the Ames Kiwanis Club and, with his wife, was active at Collegiate United Methodist Church.
A memorial funeral service will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, at Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine.
-obituary, Ames Tribune (Apr. 29, 2016)
James served in the U.S. Air Force and Iowa National Guard.
James was married to Patricia Johnson, and they had three children.
--------------------------------------------
Dr. James Edwin Pearson, 82, died Sunday, April 3, 2016, in Des Moines following an extended battle with Alzheimer’s. He leaves his wife of 42 years, Patricia Pearson; his children, Sharon Litchfield, Mark Pearson and Beth Coronelli; step children, Cindy Horn, Dave Johnson and Amy Keng; as well as 14 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Born in Springville, he was the son of Ralph and Bertha Pearson. Dr. Pearson attended Iowa State University. After graduating with a degree in agriculture, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a navigator and radar intercept officer flying in jet fighters. He later became involved in the Iowa National Guard, where he served until 1984, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
After his early service in the military, he returned to his family farm for a short time before attending Iowa State, where he graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine, and later went on to earn a master’s degree. After graduation, he worked in a veterinary practice in Fort Madison for several years. In 1968, Dr. Pearson started his career as a research virologist at National Animal Disease Center in Ames. He then went on to serve for three decades at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), also in Ames. In 1970, he became head of the avian, equine and ovine viruses section. He worked there until 1987, when he was named chief of the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory. He served as the director of NVSL from the mid to late-1990s. After retiring, he and his wife, Pat, moved to Paris, where he worked with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which focuses on the research, surveillance and control of animal diseases around the world. He headed the OIE Scientific and Technical Department and served as vice president of the OIE Standards Commission.
Dr. Pearson was truly committed and immersed himself in his work to safeguard animals against disease. With his focus on diagnosing diseases, he provided support for the Department of Agriculture’s and international animal-health efforts. He was widely recognized for his work, including as a world’s foremost authority on the diagnosis of the bird virus, Newcastle. Along with numerous other honors, he was recognized with 11 USDA awards, was presented the E.P. Pope Award for Excellence by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, and was a recipient of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Stange Award for Meritorious Service, the college’s highest honor for alumni. He also coauthored more than 115 publications.
Dr. Pearson was active in the Ames community and enjoyed leisure time with family and friends at Lake Panorama in Panora. He was a longtime member of the Ames Kiwanis Club and, with his wife, was active at Collegiate United Methodist Church.
A memorial funeral service will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, at Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine.
-obituary, Ames Tribune (Apr. 29, 2016)
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