Ian William Pierce

Abraham Lincoln claimed that “in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” While Ian William Pierce’s life tragically ended after only 29 years on September 19, 2023, he lived each day to its fullest, filling each of those years with his passion for what he believed, love for his family, and dedication to his faith.

Ian was born February 3, 1994. His parents, Bill and Barbara, chose life after being advised to have an abortion due to his mother’s heart infection while she was pregnant. After starting life with an uncertain future, perhaps it’s not surprising that Ian valued life, recognized life as a gift, and chose life every day, in many ways.

As a baby, Ian started each day cooing and singing – never crying – like he was so glad to begin the day. That sweet, happy demeanor stayed with him into adulthood and was well-loved by his family and many friends.

A graduate of Oakland University and incredibly bright, Ian pursued multiple certifications and degrees, electing to become a firefighter, paramedic, and EMT. For him, his service was a calling – and one he came by naturally, sharing a passion for the medical field with his mom (a nurse). He not only delivered his patients to the hospital to receive care, he often later returned to ensure they pulled through and were all right. He was passionate about his work. Despite going on hundreds of calls, some of which were simply heart wrenching for him, Ian wasn’t satisfied with a desk job, preferring to be on the go and reaching people when they needed help most. This love of action and opportunity to serve led him to Golden Cross Ambulance service, where he worked for the last seven months of his life and where he had already developed a wonderful network of colleagues who quickly became his friends.

Ian found other ways to give the gift of life to others and he absolutely loved helping people, whether at his church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, or in his community. Most recently, he joined the local Knights of Columbus chapter in Claremont, NH where he had moved just 18 months ago, and quickly led an effort to secure defibrillators for local churches. He subsequently provided the training that would equip parishioners to save lives.

This initiative was only one of the many ways that Ian demonstrated his devotion to God and the Catholic Church that was in many ways his home. His faith guided his actions from a very young age, nearly leading him to consider the priesthood. Only his desire for a family of his own held him back. As a devoted Catholic, attending Mass each week was the start to a perfect day, followed by a hike in the outdoors that always brought him joy.

Ian began skiing when he was only 2, quickly graduating to the challenging slopes in Snowmass, Colorado by the time he was 5. From then on, many family trips with his parents and brother, Noah, were spent out west. Over the years, his skill continued to grow, eventually leading him to become co-captain of the Ski team at Catholic Central High School and to compete at the State Championships. But it was on the day that he and his brother reached the bottom of a double black diamond called Baby Ruth and turned back to see that his dad, who had hung back to make sure the boys got down safely, had wiped out… that it was obvious how good he really was.

The ski slopes weren’t the only place Ian and his family shared adventures together. Ian and Noah grew up riding dirt bikes together in Michigan and Ian and his dad won a member/guest golf tournament in Florida in 2022. Fishing and hunting gave him opportunities to explore the world. “Captain Ian” spent many hours boating with his family on White Lake. Being able to spend time outdoors and with his family was what Ian loved most and he found as many opportunities to do that as he could.

Though his life was shorter than anyone would have wanted, it was fuller than most who live much longer. Having made the most of every day he was blessed to have, Ian is loved unconditionally and well beyond his years of life on this earth by his parents, William and Barbara Pierce; his brother Noah (Cass); his grandmothers Shirley Pierce and Redyth Gilbert; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, work and church families. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers Dan Pierce and Larry Gilbert. His family will receive visitors from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, September 29, 2023 at the Highland Chapel of the Elton Black and Son Funeral Home, 3295 East Highland Rd., Highland, MI 48356. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at St. Mary Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, 1955 E. Commerce St., Milford, MI 48381. Rite of committal services will be in All Saints Cemetery, Waterford, MI.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, 32 Pearl St., Claremont, NH 03743 and/or the Wounded Warriors Project.