Glen Wallace Pierce

May 3, 1911 – January 26, 2015

It is with sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Glen Wallace Pierce at St. Boniface Hospital on January 26th, 2015 at the age of 103.

He leaves to mourn his wife of 72 years Margaret (Daisy); children Maureen McNaught (Quinton), Rosalind Bezanson (Barry), Garvin Pierce (Elvy), and Stewart Pierce (Valerie); grandchildren Ian, Ryan, Sarah, Tamara, Cameron, Meghan, Braden, Matthew, Jamie and Andrew; great grandchildren Callan, Kaitlin, Madison, Taven, Erik, Hannah, Ethan and Ella; his brother-in-law Andrew Karsgaard, sister-in-law Jean Pierce, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents William Wallace and Edith Ella Pierce and his siblings Lloyd Pierce, Olive Karsgaard and Irma Boulter.

Born in Winnipeg (at home on Toronto Street next door to his lifelong friend Mitchell Sharp), Glen attended Laura Secord and Kelvin Schools where he excelled in music, track and field, and academically. As he reached university during the depression various scholarships and teaching private piano lessons helped finance his education, as did a car-pool which included Marshall McLuhan. Glen often spoke of the lively discussions that ensued as they drove out to the “new” campus in Fort Garry. He graduated in 1933 Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. honours degree in Classics and went on to the Faculty of Education.

Before embarking on a career of school teaching, he decided to explore the possibilities of becoming a concert pianist. On the advice of his teacher, Leonard Heaton, he studied at the Royal College of Music in London, England with teachers Harold Craxton and Arthur Benjamin. World War 11 interrupted his studies and he was advised to return to Canada immediately. Further studies were resumed after the war when he went to New York to study advanced conducting and opera at Julliard with Fritz Mahler, and choral conducting with Peter Wilhousky. It was there that he met Jan Peerce and became interested in both operatic and cantorial repertoire. (Glen was later to coach cantors, rabbis and bar mitzvah students.) He also learned to play instruments in the various sections of the orchestra so that he could better serve as a conductor.

He began his teaching career in Winnipeg 1 School Division as a substitute teacher. It was at Lord Selkirk School that he was to meet the love of his life, Daisy, who became his constant support in all his future endeavours. In addition to his public school teaching Glen maintained his ever-increasing private music pupils. While at Hugh John McDonald School teaching English he was approached by the principal to take over for the music teacher who had become ill. And as they say, the rest is history. He especially enjoyed teaching the junior high boys and moved up with them to Daniel McIntyre School where he continued until he was appointed supervisor of music. He retired in 1975.

In addition to teaching, he took on conducting and touring with the Manitoba Schools Orchestra, the University Symphony, and the Glee Club, but his greatest joy soon became working with high school students. Often his choirs numbered more than 350 students. He imbued in many of them a love of Gilbert and Sullivan and great choral repertoire. His festival choirs won trophies at the local level, as well as, on several occasions, the George Matheson trophy for the best choir in Canada. The recordings that he produced were played by Max Ferguson on his CBC Rawhide Show.

Always ahead of his time Glen chartered an airplane and took members of his “Schola Cantorum” to Britain to perform at the International Eisteddfod in Wales. “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.” Martin Luther. It was Glen’s belief that music was an international language that could bind people together to work towards world peace. When the festival was over he took his students to London to experience the theatre, especially Shakespeare and nightly pops concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. Lifetime memories were made and out of this evolved the Daniel McIntyre alumni choir. Glen was a Board member and choir director at the Peace Gardens International Music Camp, taking his choir on a European tour that culminated in singing at the Vatican. Again a special bond formed with these singers. To his very last days Glen was visited by his students who still wished to reminisce. He shared freely his musical talents and his ideas on a healthy life style that would promote longevity.

In his busy life Dad’s greatest refuge was his beloved Gull Lake. He spent weekends and summers there starting in the 1920s. He enjoyed swimming, sailing, cycling and volleyball and it was in this special place that he had time to enjoy watching his family grow.

Even here music played a role. He had a grand piano in the cottage to limber up his fingers for playing the hymns at the little gospel hall. A devout Christian, he never missed a Sunday service and only retired from playing after his one-hundredth birthday. Dad’s deep Christian faith was reflected in every corner of his life.

During the rest of the year he was a faithful member of Bethesda Church where he frequently played for Sunday night singsongs or Christmas caroling. The last time he played for his church friends was at Christmas 2014. By then suffering from macular degeneration he played all carols requested without music.

Dad’s greatest joy in retirement was his grandchildren. He took them on daily nature walks and encouraged them to talk about their schooling and future plans. He cajoled them into singing around the piano, as he dreamed of having a male quartet for Sunday services. It was his delight to hear about the career paths they had chosen, to attend their weddings, and to celebrate yet another generation.

In his retirement years Dad spent his winters in Clearwater, Florida where he and Daisy soon engaged in an extremely active social life with a very special circle of friends. It was only last year that Daisy and Glen were unable to travel south on their own.

Glen had a wonderful life and will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all those at St. Boniface Hospital who provided excellent care for our father/grandfather in his last days.

A memorial service was held at Elim Chapel on Saturday, January 31st, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Providence University College, Union Gospel Mission or a charity of one's choice.