Mary Jane Pearson

Mary Jane Pearson, 83, of Ames, Iowa passed away peacefully at her home Sunday, September 4, 2016, of pancreatic cancer. Visitation is 4 to 6 pm Thursday at the Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way in Ames. Funeral services will be at 10 am Friday, September 9 at Bethesda Lutheran Church with the Reverend Bryan Simmons officiating. Burial will be at Ames Municipal Cemetery.

Mary Jane was born July 25, 1933, the only child of Dorothy Dannatt and Henry Barlow in Buffalo, New York where Henry worked as a chemist for DuPont. Henry passed away from nephritis at an early age when Mary Jane was only 2 years old. Dorothy supported herself and Mary Jane at a time when single mothers and latch-key children were uncommon. Mary Jane learned at an early age from her mother to be strong, independent, and to value the importance of a good education. She worked in a library during high school and college and broadened her love of reading. Mary Jane attended Iowa State University where she obtained her mathematics degree. Two post college jobs included mathematical graphing of thorium testing during the Cold War as well as work on early computers at MIT. Mary Jane met Phillip Pearson at Iowa State University and they married on August 28, 1954, in Davenport, IA. They lived in Boston, MA and Columbia, MO, but spent most of their years in Ames raising their family. In May 2002, Mary Jane sadly lost Phillip after 47+ wonderful years of marriage. On August 18, 2008, she married a long-time dear friend Ramon Runkel in a celebration uniting the Pearson and Runkel families. Mary Jane and Ramon spent 6+ years together enjoying their golden years traveling and visiting family and friends. Ramon sadly passed away in August 2015.

Mary Jane was a devoted wife, mother, and woman of God. She was a breast cancer survivor! She was a volunteer at heart, serving others through Bethesda Lutheran Church, PEO, Mary Greely Oncology department, Bethany Manor in Story City, Kappa Delta Sorority and many other organizations. She loved her bridge groups, gourmet clubs, and Faculty Women's Club. She loved to travel and attend plays, concerts, football and basketball games and was an avid supporter of everything Iowa State. Thank you, Lord, for letting Mary Jane be a part of our lives!

Survivors include two daughters, Jane Beeman of Des Moines, IA and Julie (Joel) Utterback of Deerfield, IL; two sons, Bryan (Kim) Pearson of Polk City, IA, and Todd (Bethanne) Pearson of Winterset, IA; three granddaughters, Morgan Pearson, Monica Pearson, and Kelsey Utterback; six grandsons, Scott (Sheryl) Beeman, Joel (Jessica) Beeman, Erik Pearson, Griffin Pearson, Phillip Pearson, Dylan Utterback; and three great grandchildren, Teddy Beeman, Elliott Beeman, and Annabel Beeman. Mary Jane is also survived by her Runkel children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethesda Lutheran Church, Mary Greeley Hospice, or the Ames Public Library. Thank you!

Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com