Wanda Ellen (Leach) Pierson Born: May 4, 1923 and Passed Away: January 30, 2018
A celebration of life memorial will be held in St. Louis at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 24 at Kutis Funeral Home, 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd. A graveside ceremony will follow at 1 p.m. at Old St. Marcus Cemetery. A reception will be held at 2 p.m. at the Firehouse Bar and Grill, 3500 Lemay Ferry Rd.
Wanda Ellen (Leach) Pierson died peacefully on Jan. 30, 2018 at Holly Heights Nursing Center in Denver, Colo. She was 94. Wanda is survived by her brother Earl Leach (Ramona), brother-in-law Norman Pierson (Laverne), daughters Sandy (Merlenbach), Ellen (Reel), and Denise (Hawkins), son Dan, son-in-laws Mike Kanaly and Barry Hawkins, eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Wanda was preceded in death by husband Leonard (Bud) Pierson, sister Pearl, brothers Don, Walter (Bud), Irvin, Norman, Junior, and Kenny Bauer, and sons-in-law Richard Reel, Ray Merlenbach, and Eldred Hornbostel.
Wanda was born on May 4, 1923 in St. Louis, Mo. She married Bud Pierson on March 17, 1942. In addition to being a housewife and mother, she worked at the Tobin Hamilton Shoe Factory making baby shoes and as a supervisor at the Lipic Pen Co., which produced the pens used by U.S. Presidents to sign new laws. She also volunteered at church for many years. Following Bud’s death in 1973 she lived briefly with Ellen and her family in Texas, before relocating to Denver. She worked at the Sandwich Board and Denver Sandwich Company before retiring.