John Edward Pearsall was born on April 20, 1920 in Virginia, St. Louis Co., Minnesota to Dr. Robert P. Pearsall and Anna S. Nelson. Having served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Pacific Theatre Guam: Wake Island during World War II. Two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 (reported as Dec. 23, 1941) he was captured on Wake Island by the Japanese. Pearsall spent almost four years as a Japanese prisoner (POW) at Shanghai War Prisoners Camp - Kiawgwan Shanghai 31-121, eventually released/liberated in September of 1945 (reported as September 16, 1945). Recipient of the Purple Heart. After returning to the states, he was elected and served as mayor of Virginia, Minnesota from 1966-1976. In life he was a Member of the following organizations & clubs: American Legion; Disabled American Veterans; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Elks. Religion: Presbyterian. He died at the Virginia Regional Medical Center, Virginia, St. Louis Co., Minnesota on July 27, 1998.
Sources:
NARA - World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Master Database File, ca. 1941 - ca. 1945
Political Graveyard: http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/pearis-pearsell.html#0H40UNFZ8
Newstory: http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_149122457.html
Interred: 7-31-1998
Inscription:
John Edward Pearsall
Sgt US Marine Corps
World War II
Apr 20 1920 July 27 1998
Purple Heart∼J. Edward Pearsall, 78, of Virginia died Monday, July 27, 1998, in Virginia Regional Medical Center.
He was born April 20, 1920, to Dr. R.P. and Anna (Nelson) Pearsall in Virginia. As a boy, Ed grew up and attended school in Virginia, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1938. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served during World War II with First Marine Defense Battalion on Wake Island. The Japanese held Ed as prisoner of war from December 1941 to October 1945. He received the Purple Heart in June 1998.
Following his discharge, he returned to Virginia and attended Virginia Junior College. He later attended University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. On June 10, 1947, Ed married Marjorie Ogg in Duluth. Following marriage, the couple made their home in St. Paul. Ed attended Dunwoody Institute where he completed a course in engineering. In 1951, the couple returned to Virginia. Ed owned and operated Northwest Gravel Co. for a number of years. He was later employed at Robert L. Wallace Engineering and Baker Engineering in Chisholm until his retirement.
He served as mayor of Virginia from 1966-1976. While mayor, Ed was active in League of Municipalities. He was a member of Hope Community Presbyterian Church, Crellin-Tini VFW Post 1113, Pratt-Volden and American Legion Post 239. He was a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans Kolstad Chapter 23, former commander of Arrowhead Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War and Elks Virginia Lodge 1003. Ed had been a longtime Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for Troop 121.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles; sisters Charlotte Bisset and Helen Axt; and his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie; sons John (Susan), and David; a daughter, Carol (Phil) Brankin; seven grandchildren; a brother, Robert (Ann) Pearsall Jr.; former daughter-in-law, Clarice "Charlie" Pearsall; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial in Greenwood Cemetery, Virginia.
Sources:
NARA - World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Master Database File, ca. 1941 - ca. 1945
Political Graveyard: http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/pearis-pearsell.html#0H40UNFZ8
Newstory: http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_149122457.html
Interred: 7-31-1998
Inscription:
John Edward Pearsall
Sgt US Marine Corps
World War II
Apr 20 1920 July 27 1998
Purple Heart∼J. Edward Pearsall, 78, of Virginia died Monday, July 27, 1998, in Virginia Regional Medical Center.
He was born April 20, 1920, to Dr. R.P. and Anna (Nelson) Pearsall in Virginia. As a boy, Ed grew up and attended school in Virginia, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1938. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served during World War II with First Marine Defense Battalion on Wake Island. The Japanese held Ed as prisoner of war from December 1941 to October 1945. He received the Purple Heart in June 1998.
Following his discharge, he returned to Virginia and attended Virginia Junior College. He later attended University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. On June 10, 1947, Ed married Marjorie Ogg in Duluth. Following marriage, the couple made their home in St. Paul. Ed attended Dunwoody Institute where he completed a course in engineering. In 1951, the couple returned to Virginia. Ed owned and operated Northwest Gravel Co. for a number of years. He was later employed at Robert L. Wallace Engineering and Baker Engineering in Chisholm until his retirement.
He served as mayor of Virginia from 1966-1976. While mayor, Ed was active in League of Municipalities. He was a member of Hope Community Presbyterian Church, Crellin-Tini VFW Post 1113, Pratt-Volden and American Legion Post 239. He was a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans Kolstad Chapter 23, former commander of Arrowhead Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War and Elks Virginia Lodge 1003. Ed had been a longtime Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for Troop 121.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles; sisters Charlotte Bisset and Helen Axt; and his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie; sons John (Susan), and David; a daughter, Carol (Phil) Brankin; seven grandchildren; a brother, Robert (Ann) Pearsall Jr.; former daughter-in-law, Clarice "Charlie" Pearsall; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial in Greenwood Cemetery, Virginia.
John Edward Pearsall was born on April 20, 1920 in Virginia, St. Louis Co., Minnesota to Dr. Robert P. Pearsall and Anna S. Nelson. Having served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Pacific Theatre Guam: Wake Island during World War II. Two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 (reported as Dec. 23, 1941) he was captured on Wake Island by the Japanese. Pearsall spent almost four years as a Japanese prisoner (POW) at Shanghai War Prisoners Camp - Kiawgwan Shanghai 31-121, eventually released/liberated in September of 1945 (reported as September 16, 1945). Recipient of the Purple Heart. After returning to the states, he was elected and served as mayor of Virginia, Minnesota from 1966-1976. In life he was a Member of the following organizations & clubs: American Legion; Disabled American Veterans; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Elks. Religion: Presbyterian. He died at the Virginia Regional Medical Center, Virginia, St. Louis Co., Minnesota on July 27, 1998.
Sources:
NARA - World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Master Database File, ca. 1941 - ca. 1945
Political Graveyard: http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/pearis-pearsell.html#0H40UNFZ8
Newstory: http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_149122457.html
Interred: 7-31-1998
Inscription:
John Edward Pearsall
Sgt US Marine Corps
World War II
Apr 20 1920 July 27 1998
Purple Heart∼J. Edward Pearsall, 78, of Virginia died Monday, July 27, 1998, in Virginia Regional Medical Center.
He was born April 20, 1920, to Dr. R.P. and Anna (Nelson) Pearsall in Virginia. As a boy, Ed grew up and attended school in Virginia, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1938. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served during World War II with First Marine Defense Battalion on Wake Island. The Japanese held Ed as prisoner of war from December 1941 to October 1945. He received the Purple Heart in June 1998.
Following his discharge, he returned to Virginia and attended Virginia Junior College. He later attended University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. On June 10, 1947, Ed married Marjorie Ogg in Duluth. Following marriage, the couple made their home in St. Paul. Ed attended Dunwoody Institute where he completed a course in engineering. In 1951, the couple returned to Virginia. Ed owned and operated Northwest Gravel Co. for a number of years. He was later employed at Robert L. Wallace Engineering and Baker Engineering in Chisholm until his retirement.
He served as mayor of Virginia from 1966-1976. While mayor, Ed was active in League of Municipalities. He was a member of Hope Community Presbyterian Church, Crellin-Tini VFW Post 1113, Pratt-Volden and American Legion Post 239. He was a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans Kolstad Chapter 23, former commander of Arrowhead Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War and Elks Virginia Lodge 1003. Ed had been a longtime Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for Troop 121.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles; sisters Charlotte Bisset and Helen Axt; and his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie; sons John (Susan), and David; a daughter, Carol (Phil) Brankin; seven grandchildren; a brother, Robert (Ann) Pearsall Jr.; former daughter-in-law, Clarice "Charlie" Pearsall; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial in Greenwood Cemetery, Virginia.
Sources:
NARA - World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Master Database File, ca. 1941 - ca. 1945
Political Graveyard: http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/pearis-pearsell.html#0H40UNFZ8
Newstory: http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_149122457.html
Interred: 7-31-1998
Inscription:
John Edward Pearsall
Sgt US Marine Corps
World War II
Apr 20 1920 July 27 1998
Purple Heart∼J. Edward Pearsall, 78, of Virginia died Monday, July 27, 1998, in Virginia Regional Medical Center.
He was born April 20, 1920, to Dr. R.P. and Anna (Nelson) Pearsall in Virginia. As a boy, Ed grew up and attended school in Virginia, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1938. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served during World War II with First Marine Defense Battalion on Wake Island. The Japanese held Ed as prisoner of war from December 1941 to October 1945. He received the Purple Heart in June 1998.
Following his discharge, he returned to Virginia and attended Virginia Junior College. He later attended University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. On June 10, 1947, Ed married Marjorie Ogg in Duluth. Following marriage, the couple made their home in St. Paul. Ed attended Dunwoody Institute where he completed a course in engineering. In 1951, the couple returned to Virginia. Ed owned and operated Northwest Gravel Co. for a number of years. He was later employed at Robert L. Wallace Engineering and Baker Engineering in Chisholm until his retirement.
He served as mayor of Virginia from 1966-1976. While mayor, Ed was active in League of Municipalities. He was a member of Hope Community Presbyterian Church, Crellin-Tini VFW Post 1113, Pratt-Volden and American Legion Post 239. He was a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans Kolstad Chapter 23, former commander of Arrowhead Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War and Elks Virginia Lodge 1003. Ed had been a longtime Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for Troop 121.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles; sisters Charlotte Bisset and Helen Axt; and his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie; sons John (Susan), and David; a daughter, Carol (Phil) Brankin; seven grandchildren; a brother, Robert (Ann) Pearsall Jr.; former daughter-in-law, Clarice "Charlie" Pearsall; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial in Greenwood Cemetery, Virginia.
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