Bradley J Pearson

A Celebration of Life Open House for Bradley J. "Brad" Pearson will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019 with the family greeting friends from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Holdrege Country Club in Holdrege, Nebraska.  A private family inurnment will be held prior to the open house at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege with military honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the United States Navy Funeral Honors Team.

Bradley John "Brad" Pearson, 73 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away, Monday, April 1, 2019 at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege, following a long battle with Parkinson's disease.  He was born on June 18, 1945, in Hastings, Nebraska, the second of three children born to Delbert Pearson and  Catherine (Gallagher) Pearson.  He was a life-long "Duster," graduating from Holdrege High School with the class of 1963.  He then pursued higher education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating in 1968.

On January 26, 1968, he married Judy Myers from Lincoln, Nebraska, and to this union, two daughters were born: Amy and Heather.

Following his graduation from UNL, Brad joined the Peace Corps, and later enlisted in the US Navy, where he served at the US Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas.  After his honorable discharge in 1972, he returned to Holdrege.  At the suggestion of his dad, he applied for the Golf Course Superintendent position at the Holdrege Country Club.  This began his 35 year career as a self-taught superintendent.  In a short six year period of time, he was selected to serve as the president of the Nebraska Golf Course Superintendents Association, and then later, the editor of the NGSA's newsletter "Plain Turf."  In 1986, he was honored by his colleagues as Superintendent of the Year.

Brad was also a talented self-taught artist.  Dabbling in a variety of art media (watercolor, pen and ink, pastels) before primarily focusing on bronze sculpture.  This hobby/second job brought him notoriety, when his life-size sculpture of "Old Tom Morris" was placed at the British Golf Museum in St. Andrews, Scotland, and later at the GCSAA's headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas.  He also made the life-size sculptures at the Holdrege Country Club ("The Caddy"); the Holdrege Middle School ("Apple of My Eye"); and at various other golf courses across the country.  The piece "Handout" is in the permanent collection at the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney.  His collection of golf bronzes and Santa's are cherished pieces of artwork by many.

Brad always considered himself a lucky man, as his vocation was his avocation.  He lived, worked and loved the game of golf.  This love was often turned into a family affair, with his wife Judy planting flowers and both daughters doing summer stints on the golf course.  He also taught his girls the game of golf.  Following his retirement, Brad remained an avid golfer.  His grandchildren loved to go for golf cart rides with Grandpa Brad.  Brad had many beloved dogs during his lifetime, they were well known fixtures and side-kicks during his years as Superintendent.

Brad's one-of-a-kind humor and quick wit will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Besides his parents, Del and Kate Pearson, Brad was preceded in death by; his father-in-law and mother-in-law:  Charles and Frances Myers.

Survivors include his wife, Judy Pearson of Holdrege; two daughters: Amy Michalski and her husband, Bill of Holdrege; and Heather Baack and her husband, Matt of Hastings, Nebraska; five grandchildren: Avery and Erin Michalski; and Bennett, Griffin and Hadley Baack; step-mother, Ruth Pearson of Holdrege; two sisters: Pam Nyberg; and Cass Orcutt and her husband, Dean all of Holdrege; nieces, nephews and numerous other loving relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Brad's honor, and the family kindly requests memorials to the Michael J. Fox Foundation; the Phelps County Community Foundation; or Arbor Day Foundation.

There will be no visitation, as the family is honoring his wish for cremation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home of Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.