Carl B. Pierson, Jr, age 90, a resident of Batavia, Illinois, formerly of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away August 24, 2019. He was born February 13, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to Carl Sr. & Naomi Pierson.

Carl and his family attended Englewood Presbyterian Church (IL) where he came to faith in Christ as a young child. Carl graduated from Calumet High School, Chicago in 1948 where he was active in the "Hi-C" Club and met his future wife, Emily Lemon. He attended Bob Jones University and the University of Illinois.

Carl married Emily Lemon, of Chicago, on August 15, 1952. Two weeks later, he answered the call of Uncle Sam, and was drafted into the U.S. Army—serving from August 1952 to August 1954.

Early in his career, Carl worked for B.A. Railton, a food distribution firm, taking his small family with only one son to Fort Wayne, IN in 1956. The family continued to grow as he added another son and two daughters. The family was active in Immanuel Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, participated in choir, and worked together with Emily in the high school youth group. Carl later attended Blackhawk Baptist Church (IN) and First Baptist Church of Geneva (IL).

Carl's love of family and adventure was highlighted on epic vacations by car—seeing sites in the U.S., experiencing Native American culture, and documenting them on Super 8 "Home Movie Classics." He loved spending time at Bethany Beach with family and many friends. His love of boating allowed him to teach his children and many Bethany kids how to water ski. Carl was also a licensed pilot who loved to fly his "Moonie" single engine plane.

Carl was a salesman extraordinaire. He literally sold phone cards to the Amish! During his career Carl was a partner with a land development and investment firm with dealings in Fort Wayne, IN and Havasu City, AZ; he joined a startup company and became a leading salesman, and later, he saw a new opportunity and the need for herbal and vitamin supplementation and became an independent sales representative, a position he continued into his 80's.

Carl was a man known for his warm smile, feisty fun attitude, passion for people, and love of politics. You knew when he walked into a room. He loved attention and loved his family even more. Carl never met a stranger. He could get someone's life story within minutes of meeting them, even when he was all up in their personal space. Carl loved to laugh, to sing loud, have fun, drive nice cars, ski (snow & water), work in his yard, and campaign for any Republican that needed help (you're welcome Dan Quayle & Randy Hultgren!).

Everything Carl did, he did with passion and enthusiasm. If you had the opportunity to know him, we are sure your life was impacted in some way by his passion and zest for life and relationships.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Emily; his children Carl "Tug" (Judi) Pierson, III, Craig (Sara) Pierson, Peggy (Michael) Pitts and Laura (Steve) Glassman; his grandchildren Ana Pierson; Ian and Quinn Pierson; Emily and Michael Pitts; Andrew Reimer, Eryn and Tyler Glassman and Courtney (Dusty) Hawk. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his three sisters: Echo (the late Raymond) Bayne, Raye Jeanne (the late Russ) Ingraham and June (Michael) Green.

A memorial service will be held Friday, September 6, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at The Holmstad , 700 West Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, Illinois 60510 followed by a visitation from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Interment with military honors will be held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Bethany Beach , P.O. Box 365, Sawyer, MI 49125, (Please make checks payable to Bethany Beach with "In Honor of Carl Pierson" on the memo line.). Or to Interaction International (Interact/Blomberg), P.O. Box 863, Wheaton, IL 60187 (Carl's niece's ministry that works with missionary kids and families. Please make checks payable to Interaction International with "In Honor of Carl Pierson" on the memo line.).

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.