Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Pierce, Glenn Lawrence November 15, 1947 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com July 5, 2019, 11:10 pm Sentinel-Std. Mon., Nov. 17 & Wed. Nov. 19, 1947 Glenn L. Pierce, 64, died suddenly Saturday afternoon in the woods while hunting deer nine miles southeast of Houghton Lake. Death was attributed to a heart attack and was believed to have been almost instantaneous. Mr. Pierce was found seated upon the ground by his son, Max, when he went to check the station where his father had been posted at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon as the party was about to assemble at the car to return to their lodging at Houghton Lake. Mr. Pierce had been feeling in good spirits during the day and there was no indication of his impending death. The party consisted of Hiram Darling, Mr. Pierce and his two sons, Max and Robert, had gone to Houghton Lake Friday to open the deer hunting season. They had gone out for the day Saturday and in the afternoon had taken their stations some distance apart. It was about four o'clock when Max went to check with them, visiting Mr. Darling's post first and then going on to where his father had been stationed. Mr. Pierce had apparently been preparing for the return trip as he had folded up the blanket which he wore during the day ready to take it back to the car. For nearly forty years Mr. Pierce has been in the building construction business in Ionia where in moved in 1905 following his marriage at Ionia to Ada Blanche Allen on February 8. He was the son of Ezra and Emma Haysmer Pierce and his home during his boyhood and youth had been on the Pierce farm on what is now M-66 on the present Nelson Haysmer farm south of Woods Corners. He attended the Ionia school but did not graduate from the high school, going into business with his father in building constructing. He remained with his father until the death of the elder Pierce, and in more recent years has been associated in business with his sons as Glenn L. Pierce, contractor. During the years that Mr. Pierce has been in Ionia he has built many of its homes and business buildings. Among those which mark his influence upon the city are the Free Fair buildings. The grandstand was built in 1919 and enlarged three years later in 1921, the automobile building was put up and at other times the merchants building and the National Bank building. He remodeled the Masonic temple in 1919 after the destructive fire. The old club house of the Ionia Country club which was burned and the new one which replace it were both built by Mr. Pierce. In 1932 he built the Methodist church to replace the one burned. Among other building he constructed are the Sentinel- Standard building on North Depot street, the former Ypsilanti Reed building at Lyons, the Grand Valley Packing company buildings, formerly the Michigan Porcelain Tile Works, the Ionia Creamery building; the Darling building and the former Benedict garage, now occupied by the A&P company. Mr. Pierce remodeled the Hotel Divine at Portland, the Lake Odessa Canning company plant damaged by a wind storm in 1934 built a grade school and an addition to the high school at Belding. He constructed many of Ionia's dwellings in one year completed 16 houses. He had served his city as an alderman for 14 years and during that time as president of the council and acting mayor at times. He had also served for 14 years as a member of the Ionia board of education of which he was president. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of the F. and A. M. of Queen Esther chapter, O. E. S., and of DeWitt Clinton consistory of Grand Rapids. He was a life member of Ionia lodge 548, B.P.O.E., of which he was a member of the board of trustees. Survivors are his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Reva Vester of Detroit and Mrs. Thelma Clark of Hartford; three sons, Allen G., Max A., and Robert E., all of Ionia, one sister, Mrs. Alice Thomas of Fenwick. Funeral services will be attended Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 from the Methodist Episcopal church, with the Rev. Dwight M. Kitch, pastor of the church, officiating. For one hour before the services the body will be at the church. Until it is taken there it will repose at the Stone funeral home on East Washington street. Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1947 - Sentinel-Standard Funeral services for Glenn L. Pierce were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the First Methodist church with the Rev. Dwight M. Kitch officiating. Mrs. Dale Rosecrance was the organist. The Masonic burial rites were conducted in the church by Albert Fox, acting W.M.; Harris Jackson, chaplain; Francis Harkness, S.W.; E.W. Krainbrink, J.W.; Rex Allen, S.D.; Herman Kreil, J.D.; and George Gosett, Tyler. The bearers were Hiram Darling, Foss O. Eldred, Archie V. Wright, Roger Allen, Marl Ross and Archie Boltz. Mrs. Archie Boltz, Mrs. Erminie White, Mrs. R.R. Whitten and Mrs. Lois Hathaway were in charge of the flowers. Attending the funeral in groups were the Masons, who also acted as honorary escort, the B.P.O.E. No. 548 and the employees associated with the Glenn Pierce Construction company. Interment was made in Highland Park mausoleum. Attending the services from out of town were Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Veater and Mrs. Lynette Franklin of Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. William Clark and two children, Marlene and Bobby of Hartford; Mrs. Thomas, Ralph Thomas, Ray Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Staines and Miss Additional Comments: Age: 64 Service: Tuesday, 18 November 1947 Highland Park Mausoleum #D-5 b. 8 Feb. 1883 Ronald Twp. son of Ezra Pierce & Emily S. (Haysmer) marr: 8 Feb. 1905 to Ada Blanche (Allen) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/p/pierce9638gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb