John Benjamin Pearson Jr., 79, of Chippewa Falls died May 4, 2016, at Chippewa Manor.

He was born June 12, 1936, in Milwaukee, to Alice (Gomber) and Dr. John B. Pearson Sr. He graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha, Wis., class of 1954.

John continued his education at Harvard University from 1954, until 1958. John then served as a surgical tech in the U.S. Army from Dec. 1958, until his honorable discharge in Dec. 1960. He then earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1963.

In May of 1966, John was set up on a blind date and after a brief courtship, he married Mary Elizabeth Goodoien on December 17 of that same year.  They lived in Chippewa Falls for the first eight years of their marriage. John's career then took him to Coon Rapids, MN where they resided for the next 19 years while he worked for Control Data in Arden Hills, MN.  In 1992, he and Mary returned to Chippewa Falls.  He worked for Cray Research, Inc. (later part of Silicon Graphics) from 1992-1998, designing the first supercomputer in his early career.

While growing up in Kenosha, WI, John was active in the Catholic church.  According to Mary, "he was the cutest little altar boy you ever saw!"   He was also an avid ham radio operator as well and his handle was K9ABP (King Niner Able Baker Peter) and belonged to several clubs throughout his life. After marriage, he became a member of the Lutheran Church and along with Mary, was an active member of Central Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls. He was also a former member of the ELKS Club. 

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Mary Pearson of Chippewa Falls; two daughters, Elizabeth Marie Pearson (Timothy Moore) of W. St. Paul, MN, Katherine Anne Pearson of Rochester, MN; his brothers, Robert E. Pearson of Chicago, IL, Dr. Thomas W. (Marilyn)  Pearson of Helena, MT; cousin, Tom (Monika) Clark of Madison, WI; brothers-in-law, John (Carol) Goodoien of Lonsdale, MN, Thomas (Eileen) Goodoien of Bloomington, MN, and James (Jean) Goodoien of Vadnais Heights, MN; nephews and nieces, Dr. Michael (Linda) Goodoien of Hugo, MN, Linda (Steven) Stenson of Maple Grove, MN, Deb (Bryan) Byers of Somerset, WI, Cynthia (Mark) Cummings of Sarona, WI, Lisa (James) Caulfied of Camarillo, CA, Eric Goodoien of Eagan, MN, Jennifer (Greg) Stapleton of Spokane, WA, Justin (Ann) Pearson of Helena, MT, and Allison (Brad) Martin of Townsend, MT; great-nieces and nephews, David (Megan) Goodoien and son, Hudson, of Columbia Heights, MN, Kathryn (Ben) Lucas and son, Joshua, of Duluth, MN, Jason (Elvira) Stenson of Portland, OR, Jeanette Stenson (Nate Stern) of New York, NY, Angela Stenson of Saint Cloud, MN, Ian Cummings of Milwaukee, WI, Maya Cummings of Klammath Falls, OR, M.J. and Mary Caulfield of Camarillo, CA, Bailey and Morgan Stapleton of Spokane, WA, Tori, Monte and Tasha Pearson of Helena, MT, and Branor, Hadley, Gideon, Ashby, Adelaide and Madigan Martin of Townsend, MT, and their special Godchild, Julie (David) Anderle and their children, Kyra and Thomas of Lakeville, MN; and his grand-cats. He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, J. Herbert and Irene Goodoien, and brother-in-law, William Goodoien. 

A memorial service was held on May 14, 2016 at Central Lutheran Church, 28 E. Columbia St., Chippewa Falls with the Rev. Aaron Sturgis officiating.  Military honors conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council immediately followed the service at the church. After the military honors, a luncheon reception was held in the church fellowship hall. 

Memorials may be designated to Irvine Park, Chippewa Falls Museum of Industry & Technology, or Central Lutheran Church.