Thomas “Bill” Pierce

Thomas W. (Bill) Pierce of Rochert, Minnesota, died suddenly Friday, January 8th, 2010 in Overland Park, Kansas.   Bill is survived by his wife, Carolyn G. (Sarrica) Pierce; two daughters, Valerie Berry of Cincinnati, Ohio and Toni Petersen of Overland Park, Kansas; two grandsons, Thatcher and Brody Petersen; his brother, Patrick Pierce (Deborah) of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, one aunt, Verna Wahl of San Francisco; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.  Born in 1945 in Washington, D.C., he is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Pierce, Jr. and his mother, Edna Wahl Pierce.  Bill grew up in Enderlin, North Dakota, graduated from Enderlin High School, served in the U.S. Air Force, and was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi where he met his wife of 42 years.  After the Air Force, Bill graduated from The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. They moved to Carolyn’s hometown of Sandusky in 1971 where he worked as a police officer until he retired as Captain in 1998.  Bill’s dream was to retire at the lake where he spent summers growing up.  In 1998 He and Carolyn moved to Rochert, Minnesota on Cotton Lake.  He worked part time and spent his days hunting, fishing and being host to anyone who wanted to visit the lake. The family is planning a private funeral in Overland Park, KS on Thursday, January 14th, and will plan memorial services in Sandusky, Ohio and Rochert, Minnesota this summer.  In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to the Cotton Lake Association www.cottonlakeassociation.org or Pheasants Forever www.pheasantsforever.org.