Obituaries: Wilbur “Gene” Pearce, Jr.

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Obituaries: Wilbur "Gene" Pearce, Jr.

Wilbur “Gene” Pearce Jr., 71, of John Day, died July 8 at Blue Mountain Hospital. A funeral service was held July 11 at Driskill Memorial Chapel. Pastor Daniel Weise officiated. Interment was held at Canyon City Cemetery.

He was born July 27, 1936, in La Grande, to Wilbur E. Pearce, Sr. and Freda (Adams). He graduated from Hermiston High School in 1955, where he lettered in football all four years. In August 1954, he married Gail Weiberg in Pasco, Wash. She died in April 1993. In August 2001, he married Sherry Gamaza-Clare in Winnemucca, Nev.

A member of the John Day Elks Lodge #1824, the American Red Cross and the Grant County Snowballers, he loved to go snowmobiling and four-wheeling, and enjoyed boating and crabbing. He also loved to travel with Sherry and visiting family in Minnesota. He also owned the C&M Apartments in Canyon City. He enjoyed being a husband and father, and was a friend to all.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gail Pearce; his father, Wilbur E. Pearce, Sr.; a granddaughter, Sheila Pearce; and a grandson, Jason Pearce.

Survivors include his wife, Sherry Pearce of Canyon City; daughters, Vicki Lundbom and Susan Pearce, both of John Day; son, Bill Pearce of Canby; five stepsons, Darin Siers of John Day, Rick Siers of Redmond, Donald Moeller, David (Kathy) Moeller and David (Laurie) Paszak, all of Minnesota; mother, Freda Pearce of Canyon City; brother, Donald (Marlene) Pearce of Atwater, Calif.; sister, Muriel Wark of Seattle; five grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren.

Contributions in his name may be made to the Elks Lodge or to Blue Mountain Hospice through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.

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