Paul Pearson

(Arthur) Paul Pearson, aged 80, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024, of complications resulting from vascular dementia. Paul is survived by his children Jim (Christine) Mapes-Pearson, Michael (Maribeth) Pearson, Wendy (Rob) Cornelison and Scott (Jen) Pearson; grandchildren Michael, Mathias, Frances, Cody, Haley, Julia, Anna, Grace, Jia, Gage, Jayce, Sydney, Kensey and Jim Ryan; great-grandchildren Jaxon and Theodore, brother-in-law Dave Palmer, nieces and nephews Linda, Jeff, Nancy, Becky, Susan and Kathy. Paul was preceded in death by his sisters, Karen Palmer and Jeanette Hall, and brother-in-law, Bob Hall.

Paul was born on April 11, 1944, a descendant of English lighthouse keepers and Swedish farmers. He grew up in the Riverside and Creston neighborhoods on the north side of Grand Rapids and graduated from Creston High School in 1962. He was the class president, and for the last 60 years, he organized and co-planned their class reunions, the last of which was held in 2022.

He started his college education at GM Tech in Flint, but engineering wasn’t for him. He transferred to Grand Rapids Junior College and then to Michigan State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science. He went on to earn his master’s from Western Michigan University and, in the mid-80s, earned his Ph.D. in organizational psychology from The Fielding Institute in California.

He worked for Steelcase for 25 years, starting in the Personnel Department in 1969 and retiring as Director of Human Resources in 1994. He worked as a consultant for the next 25 years, genuinely retiring at age 75. Throughout his professional lifetime, he also moonlighted as an adjunct professor at Western Michigan University, Aquinas College and Grand Valley State University.

He was a lifelong, die-hard MSU Spartan. He held season football tickets for many years and, during that time, attended every game at Spartan Stadium, come rain, shine or snow.

Later in life, he learned woodworking to the degree of a fine craftsman. He built countless pieces for himself, friends and family, including bunk beds, shelves and tables.

Paul played the tuba and baritone from age 13 until he was 75. For the last 20+ years of his tuba career, he played with the Grand Rapid’s Symphonette.

In high school, he ran track and cross country. He co-founded the Steelcase Running Club, ran in the inaugural 25K Riverbank Run and many more after that. In his 40s, he took up windsurfing and mountain biking. In his 50s, he added snowboarding and motorcycling. He sold his last Harley when he was 70 but continued snowboarding until he was 75.

In his 60s, he and his friend Bob Singer began a decade of travel adventures. Together, they hiked Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Mount Shasta. They rafted the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and biked across New Mexico and Vermont.

In 2015, Paul became active in West Michigan Therapy Dogs, training his two golden retrievers, Buddy and Shiloh. He and his dogs visited hundreds of people in multiple locations weekly for hospice and monthly for the Kids in Transition and the Ruff Reader program. After Buddy passed away, he added a new puppy to his family and named him Sparty. He was an avid member of Shaggy Pines Dog Park, often visiting several times a week and walking with the many friends he made—both two-legged and four-legged.

Visitation with the family will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, December 5, at Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 4291 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. A memorial service celebrating Paul’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, December 6, at Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home, with visitation from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Paul will be laid to rest privately at Rosedale Memorial Park Cemetery in Walker.

In memory of Paul and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to West Michigan Therapy Dogs, Grand Rapids Symphonette, Van Andel Institute Dementia Research, and Dementia Institute of Grand Rapids.

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