Raymond H. Pearson

Raymond H. Pearson of Duluth, formerly of Hermantown, died at home at age 90 on August 4, 2016. He had served Hermantown at various times as superintendent of schools, newspaper publisher, and executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. Pearson was also the architect of the community's annual SummerFest celebration and creator of the Hermantown tagline  "City of Quality Living." Ray was born Feb. 1, 1926 in St. Paul to Clarence and Ethel  (Carlson) Pearson. He grew up in Park Rapids, MN, where he spent a boyhood exploring the woods and rivers that were minutes from his home. He was an honorary member of the class of 1944.   He left school early to enlist and served in the Army Armored Infantry from 1944-1946, the last part in Europe. Ray received the Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star. His military unit, credited with participating in the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. He considered it a special honor to have been a warrior for his country.   Ray was enthusiastically united in marriage to Jeanne Wenzel on November 28, 1953.   He received a Bachelors Degree from Bemidji State University and Master of Arts in Administration from the University of Minnesota. He served as high school principal in Elmore and Zumbrota, MN and Superintendent of Schools in Elmore, Plainview, Hermantown, and Esko.   Upon retirement, he served as a consultant for the Minnesota Department of Education, assisting school districts having fiscal problems. He also entered into partnership with daughter Cynthia, who founded the Hermantown Star.   Ray was active in Glen Avon Presbyterian Church as an Elder and started the church's Men's Group. He was a charter member of the Hermantown Chamber of Commerce, serving as Executive Director for a number of years.   His retirement also freed him to work on his calling of bringing good cheer wherever he went. Tellers, clerks, his barber, his doctors, and his fellow travelers at dialysis knew that he would always have a smile and a new joke for them. He spread his humor farther afield with a column for his men's group at church and a monthly newsletter for 32 family members, friends, and folks he thought would appreciate some friendly mail. Ray was also proud that in April of 2003 he began reading I Corinthians 13 each morning, and except for one day early on, he had not missed a single day since.   He was preceded in death by his parents; his father- and mother-in-law, Edwin and Ruby Wenzel; brothers Donald, Leonard and baby boy Pearson; sisters Lucille, Jean, Elaine, Alice and Sylvia.   Ray will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 62 years, Jeanne; four children: Cynthia "Cindy" (Bill) Alexander of Hermantown, Andrea Pearson of Proctor, Bret Pearson (Lars Hutchings) of Minneapolis, and Darcy (David) Freese of Rolling Prairie, IN; 6 grandchildren: Lauren (Stacy) Carolan, Michael (Allison) Alexander, Evan Fazio, Jarrett Fazio, Henry Freese, Sarah Freese; two great-grandchildren, William "Liam" and Amelia "Millie" Carolan; three sisters, Janice (Stan) Newman, Marjorie Pearson, and Ruth (Gordon) Seidel; and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and friends. The family asks that as a memorial to Ray you share a smile and a story with someone today. A memorial service with military honors will be held at 11 am Monday, August 29 at Glen Avon Presbyterian Church, 2105 Woodland Avenue with visitation from 6-8pm Sunday, and 1 hour before the service on Monday. Arrangements by Sunrise Funeral Home, 4798 Miller Trunk Highway, Hermantown MN. Cremains to be distributed at Glen Avon Memorial Garden and Sunrise Mausoleum.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Raymond H. Pearson, please visit our floral store.