Johnathon Edward Pierce left us to be with our Lord on April 7, 2015. John was the 3rd child born to Abel H. and Stella Yeatts Pierce on the Pierce Ranch near Palacios, Texas. He was born January 28, 1925. John chose to celebrate his birthday on the 28th, since he was born around midnight in his country home and his parents were not quite sure if his birthday was the 28th or the 29th. John grew up hunting, fishing, riding horses, and enjoying other outdoor activities. John believed his childhood was an "ideal" way for a boy to grow up.

John graduated from Palacios High School in Palacios, Texas, at age 17, in 1942 and worked with his Dad after graduation. On June 29, 1943, he was drafted into the army. During World War II, John was in the 149th Engineer Combat Battalion of the 6th Engineer Special Brigade. His outfit landed on Normandy at Omaha Beach, Easy Green Sector, on June 6, 1944 at D-Day plus one hour. All of the officers aboard his landing craft were lost before they could get off the craft. Casualties were 20% in John's outfit. Under heavy barrage from the Germans who were in pillboxes and fortifications atop the cliffs, it took two days before his regrouped outfit could reach the top of the cliffs. After Normandy, John was involved in the Battle of the Bulge and other significant battles as he moved through the Rhineland and Central European campaigns. After the war ended, the army transported him as far as Tyler, Texas where he received his discharge papers on Christmas Eve, 1945. There were no phones at his home near Palacios. He took a bus to Houston, then to Wharton, where he arrived 3:00 AM on Christmas day. Using all of his disbursement pay ($217.73) he paid a taxi cab to drive him to his family's cattle guard near Palacios and walked about a mile to his front door, arriving at 5:00 AM Christmas morning. When John's mother heard the front door open on Christmas morning, she " knew it was Johnny!" She always said that was the best Christmas ever.

John married Elsie M. Brokmeyer of New Ulm, Texas on July 27, 1946. Elsie had previously been engaged to John's close friend, Oscar Wofford, who was killed in hedgerow fighting in Normandy. While attending the University of Houston with his GI bill, John sold hats at Montgomery Ward downtown. He graduated with a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1950 and began his career with Tidewater, which became Getty Oil Company and finally Texaco. He worked in Cayuga, Texas, Kilgore, Texas, Houston, Texas, Lafayette, Louisiana, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Next, he became District Production Manager in Midland, Texas. Back in New Orleans again, he became District Exploration and Production Manager. He spent a few years in Tulsa and retired from Texaco in New Orleans in 1987. He was a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a member of the Lutheran Church. He remained in New Orleans until 2007 when he relocated to Katy, Texas.

John enjoyed playing golf with his friends, visiting friends and family and taking his grandchildren to the park, zoo, and other attractions in New Orleans. John was well liked because of his positive attitude and good nature. No matter what happened, John always persevered in the belief that "things will get better." If he "could survive Omaha Beach," he believed he could "get through anything."

John is preceded in death by his wife Elsie Brokmeyer, son John Jr., his parents, Abel H. and Stella Pierce, his brother Abel H. Pierce, sister Grace Pearl Adams and brother Donald Pierce.

He is survived by his son John Jr.'s wife Kristen and husband Lester Keith of Tyler, Texas, daughter Penny and husband Robert Neese of Boerne, Texas, daughter Nancy and husband Chris Dibler of Richmond, Texas, and son Luke Pierce and wife, Maria of Richardson, Texas. He is survived by 9 grandchildren: Ruth and her husband, Jake Anderson, Aimee and her husband Michael Carpenter, Rebecca and her husband, Robert Alexander, Robert Neese, Jr., Jonathan Neese and his wife Kandis, Joshua Dibler, Melissa and her husband Daniel Meza, Jr., Angela Pierce, and Andrew Pierce and his wife Brittney. He is also survived by 8 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Robert Neese, Jr., Jonathan Neese, Joshua Dibler, Andrew Pierce, Jake Anderson, Robert Alexander, Michael Carpenter, Daniel Meza, Jr., and Lehron Brune. Honorary pallbearers are Walter Adams, Warren Pierce, Dennis Pierce, Jay Pierce, Layne Hoppe, Albert Hoppe, Ronald Brune, James Brokmeyer, and Randy Brokmeyer.

Special hymns during the service are sung by Ronald Brune and Brenda Tonn, nephew and niece of John Pierce.

Visitation will be 5-7 PM on Thursday, April 9, 2015, at Garmany and Carden Funeral Directors Chapel, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, Texas 77471. Services will be held 11:00 AM Friday, April 10, 2015, at the First Baptist Church, 202 Main Street, Palacios, Texas 77465, with Rev. Dale Leland officiating. Immediately following the service, graveside services will be held at Hawley Cemetery near Blessing, Texas, in Matagorda County.

Memorials may be made to: Texas Lutheran University, Development Office, John E. Pierce, Jr. Scholarship Fund, 1000 West Court Street, Seguin, Texas, 78155 or the charity of your choice.

Condolence messages may be written for the Pierce family at www.garmanycarden.com.

Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, Texas 77471 (281-342-4671).