Roll Call Tribute

James Stanton “Stan” Pierce Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.)
January 9, 1937 – November 6, 2021

James Stanton “Stan” Pierce (Lieutenant Colonel, Retired) was born on January 9, 1937, and grew up in Waco, Texas. In 1958, Stan graduated from Texas A&M College (now University) in College Station, Texas, serving in the Corps of Cadets and earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Stan served in a variety of positions, from a Missile Combat Crewman and Commander in locations throughout the Western United States to a Watch Officer at the National Military Command Center in the Pentagon. The highlight of Stan’s career, and one he reflected upon continually, was his year spent in Republic of Vietnam, training the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam on munitions handling and employment. In 1979, while serving in the Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Stan retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In Stan’s second career he served in the Law Department at Union Pacific Railroad, managing department operations while Union Pacific acquired the Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific Railroads. Following his second retirement, Stan continued to serve others by working at the Nebraska Epilepsy Foundation, Children’s Square U.S.A., Community Alliance, and St. Martha’s Episcopal Church.

Stan finally retired in 2012, filling his days with keeping track of his pets, Rosie, Aggie, and Savannah, watching Gunsmoke, cheering on the Aggies, and connecting with friends. While Stan may have slowed down during his retirement, he was always ready to tell you a story about watching his sons’ wrestle, the bone chilling cold at Malmstrom Air Force Base, working countless hours underground in a missile silo, serving on the watch floor during the SS Mayaguez Incident, walking along Foggy Bottom, or peaceful times on the water at Lake Waconda with his family and a Gin and Tonic.

Stan was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice Pierce and Gladys Howard; and sons, Maurice “Reece” Pierce and John “Russ” Pierce.

Stan is survived by his wife, Gladys Pierce of Papillion, Nebraska; his sister, Kay Gritter (Jerry) of Bryan, Texas; son, Randy Pierce (Beth) of Glasgow, Kentucky; daughters-in-law, Debbie Pierce of Fort Myers, Florida and Jennifer Bivens of Knoxville, Tennessee; stepchildren: Alison Pierce (fiancée Ryan Rosener) of South Sioux City, Nebraska, Derek Pierce (Jill) of Elkhorn, Nebraska, and Nolan Pierce (Melissa) of Columbia, Maryland; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren spread throughout the United States.

Family will receive friends Sunday, November 14th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at West Center Chapel.

FUNERAL: Monday, November 15th at 11am at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church, 780 Pinnacle Drive, Papillion, NE. Interment: Omaha National Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Stan’s memory are suggested to Community Alliance of Omaha, St. Martha’s Episcopal Church of Papillion, or the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation.

Softly call the muster, Let comrade answer, “Here”

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