Jack Roland Pearce, Jr. 55, of Taylorville passed away on April 2, 2019 at his home. He was born on October 2, 1963 in Taylorville, the son of Jack R. and Susan R. (Brooks) Pearce. Jack married Jill Taylor on November 13, 1993 at the Taylorville Country Club. Jack graduated from Taylorville High School in 1981 and attended Rochester Community College, Rochester, MN. He was a diehard Minnesota Vikings football fan. Many remember Jack from Ray’s Place and McCarty’s restaurants before starting a career in Illinois State Government. He worked for the Secretary of State and the Illinois Human Rights Commission in several positions, including legislative liaison. Himself an Alpha-1 patient, he went on to work for CSL Behring as a Patient Advocate. He formed valuable friendships with Alpha-1 patients and their families from across the country. Through social media, he was able to maintain those friendships even after travel was no longer possible. Jack was raised with a strong community-minded appreciation for Taylorville and Christian County. He served on the Christian County Board for nearly twenty years. Jack was a member of the Taylorville Evangelical Free Church where he played guitar with the praise team. He enjoyed free time as a social member at the VFW, spending time with his rescue beagles, Abby and Minnie, playing guitar, watching sports, arguing politics and soaking up the summer sun.
Jack is survived by his wife, Jill Pearce of Taylorville; son, Jack Pearce, III of Springfield; mother, Susan Pearce of Taylorville; sister; Jo Beth Pearce of Taylorville; nephew, Matt Pearce of Taylorville; aunt, Becky Mazzotti of Taylorville; cousins, Shelli Smith (husband Marty) and Lori Hart (husband Dave), Clark, Clyde, Chuck and Jay Pearce and their families; father-in-law, Jerry and wife Dotti Taylor of Morrisonville; mother-in-law Joann Taylor of Taylorville. He will be sadly missed by his numerous other in-laws, extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joe and Maxine Brooks, Jr. and Clyde and Mable Pearce; father, Jack Pearce, Sr., Uncles John Mazzotti and J.C. Pearce, and Aunt Marilyn Pearce.
Visitation will be on Friday, April 5, 2019 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Sutton Memorial Home. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 6 at 10:00 a.m. at Sutton Memorial Home with Pastor Don Beetem officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Taylorville.
The family asks that you consider memorials in Jack’s honor to Taylorville Memorial Foundation, earmark Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services (www.taylorvillememorial.org/Foundation/Giving) the Christian Country Animal Control 300 S. Baughman Road, Taylorville or the Taylorville Evangelical Free Church 319 S. Washington St, Taylorville.
Sutton Memorial Home in Taylorville is assisting the family with arrangements.
Memories of Jack or condolences to the family may be left online at www.suttonmemorialhome.com
