Douglas Carl Pearson, formerly of East Lansing, passed away on May 6, 2021 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Eighty-six years ago given the gift of life, now he gives it back with a fond farewell to his family and friends.
Doug was preceded in death by his cherished wife of fifty-four years, Marley Leone Knight, and parents Ann and Carl Pearson. He is survived by his daughters Diane Bartoszewicz (Lenny) and Janet Kremers (Steve), granddaughters Andrea Areskog (Cris), Allie Bartoszewicz, Caroline Kremers, grandson Brian Kremers (Corie), great-grandchildren Marley and Julian Areskog, brother Jim (Joy), niece Betsy (Loran), nephew Dan, and five great nieces and nephews.
A Minneapolis native, Doug was a 1956 graduate from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. degree in Journalism. He served as Public Relations Director for Lansing’s Goodyear subsidiary Motor Wheel Corporation, Director of Communications for Michigan Road Builders Association, and owned his own business Pearson Public Relations. He did extensive freelancing for magazines and newspapers, and received awards during his career for his accomplishments in Journalism and Public Relations.
Active in the Lansing area community, Doug served on several Boards of Directors, including the State of Michigan United Way, the R.E.O. Olds Museum, Chief Okemos Boy Scout Council (he himself was an Eagle Scout), the Rotary Club of Lansing, the Boys & Girls Club of Lansing, the Greater Lansing Center for the Arts, the Mid-Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, and the Pioneer District Barbershop Harmony Society. He attended Peoples Church participating with their choir.
Travel was a passion for Doug, and along with Marley he ventured throughout the United States, as well as Europe and South America. He embarked on an African Safari with friend Rich Harlow, and more recently experienced Ireland, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and a Rhine River cruise with his children.
Throughout his life, Doug was active in a number of choral groups. In Lansing, he was a member of the Capitol City Chordsmen Barbershop Chapter, and a founding member of the Patch Chords comedy quartet. In their more than forty years of entertaining, the quartet had logged more than 1,200 performances throughout Michigan and the Midwest. For many, hearing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” will invoke memories of Doug and his showmanship, complete with puppets. Doug would say, “Many of us go to our graves with our music still inside us.” He wanted to make sure he wasn’t one of them.
His family was blessed by his wit, creativity, and love of life. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 am Monday, May 10, 2021 at Peoples Church East Lansing. Donations may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Lansing or City Rescue Mission of Lansing. A Celebration of Life will be planned for this summer. Please check the website in the next month for details.
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