Carol Pearson
Carol A. Pearson, née Leischner, of Lindsborg, Kansas, has played her last hand playing bridge, made up her last exaggerated story to entertain kids and grandkids, sung her last song crossing a bridge, and enjoyed her last cup of coffee.
Carol was born into a boisterous farmhouse in Arenzville, Illinois—one of eight children raised by John and Clara with no-nonsense values on a hard-scrabble farm. The house was loud, energetic, and full of relentless workers and honest people. Those traits stayed with her for life. She maintained an outer toughness, never, ever complaining through broken bones, breast cancer chemo, and delivering giant babies. At the same time, with supreme empathy that was boundless, she cried at every good-bye, good book, or semi-sad movie.
Her brothers served their country and Carol became the first in the family to attend college, graduating from Illinois College in Jacksonville in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree. There she met the love of her life, A. John Pearson (d. July 2023). Together, they traveled the world, organized countless events, mailed thousands of newsletters at midnight, and shepherded their three children—Clay, Jay, and Lynn—into fully functioning adulthood. They are functioning, 328 is finally cleared and cleaned, and she is at rest with total gratitude and loved by all.
Carol was a committed educator. She began her career teaching English and Reading to grades 5–8 in Alexander, Illinois in the mid-1960s, later re-earning her teaching certificate in Kansas. Her children endured long road trips filled with flashcards and spelling drills. She was an early advocate for gifted education when such programs didn’t yet exist locally.
Bethany College was central to Carol’s life, first through A. John’s work and then her own deep community involvement that created true loves — cheering at Bethany College football and basketball games, joining gourmet club dinners for decades, chairing committees, and cooking for the Bethany Dames. When A. John brought home students or guest lecturers unannounced, Carol never blinked — dinner would appear.
With unconditional love, according to Carol, her children, their spouses, and her grandkids could do no wrong. No matter what was worn, what the state of mind, or poor attitudes, brought, she was accepting and generous in support. While sorting through old boxes at the 328 homestead of 50 years, her children found sharply worded letters to school officials in defense of her kids—a consistent display of her fierce loyalty. She ran for school board, engaged in local elections, and believed deeply in tolerance. One favorite saying was, “What they do does not affect you.” And yes, the spouses can confirm: the Pearson kids and now grandkids do not suffer from a lack of self-confidence.
Though often impatient and ready to get moving, she adapted (as best she could) to A. John’s procrastination, often sending in the kids to drag him away from his Bethany desk hours after they were supposed to leave for Minnesota or Illinois. She loved games and competition. The Minnesota lake cabin became an annual summer ritual full of Connect Four, Uno, Sequence, and laughter. Even summer reading at the Lindsborg Community Library was not just to learn and enjoy, but something to be won.
Travel was a shared passion. The Pearsons pinched pennies for economy international trips with their kids and then traveled extensively in retirement—from South Africa to Sweden. Hosting was part of their worldview. In the mid-80’s, Carol and A. John welcomed a beloved Swedish exchange student, Anna Hagberg, who became a lifelong member of the family. Over the years, they coordinated placements for more than a hundred high school students through the American Scandinavian Student Exchange. The door was always open and people walked in at 328. Generous to a fault, once when a carburetor was stolen out of many decrepit cars in the back yard, she remarked, “They must have needed it more than we did.”
Carol had a career in media and sales, serving as Director of Advertising for the Lindsborg News-Record from 1985 to 2003. She had a natural talent for connecting with people and promoting local businesses. Her entrepreneurial spirit showed up at home too, helping her sons on their paper route by pre-wrapping newspapers before dawn and backing Lynn’s t-shirt business at summer journalism camps.
There was a lot of Mary Poppins in her—creative, fun-loving, and always ready for adventure. She’d say, “Boredom is a state of mind,” and she meant it. She was a voracious reader, a fierce crossword puzzler, and a fan of any party with a good theme. She loved orchestrating themed parties and writing Christmas cards. She held dear her close friends and circles—especially the Chester and Sharon Bruce family and the Jim and Mary Parker family, with whom they shared thousands of impromptu meals. Bethany Lutheran Church was an additional cornerstone with Bethany College of their world, providing opportunities to gather and share.
Carol is survived by her three children: Clay and Jennifer Pearson (Pearland, Texas); Jay and Candace Pearson (Carrollton, Texas); and Lynn and Tim Reazin (Eudora, Kansas). Her grandchildren who will carry her brightness and wanderlust forward include Caleb, Ezekiel, Nathaniel, and Gabe Reazin. They have a big legacy to fulfill. She was preceded in death by beautiful grandson Shane Gabriel Reazin. She is additionally survived by grandchildren Ashton (Pearson) Baro and Joshua Pearson, and by her siblings Linda Six, Arlene Colclasure, and Ed Leischner; sister-in-law Donna, Betty, and Cheryl; and sister-in-law, Irene Nielson. She was preceded in death by siblings John, Charlie, Richard, and Bill. There are scores of fortunate nephews and nieces too who join the family with Carol in their memories.
Arrangements are available through the Crick Christians Funeral Home in Lindsborg. The family thanks the kind and many hands of Bethany Home who cared for Carol in her last two years. She loved the people there and they reciprocated at her last ongoing dinner party out. Memorials are suggested to Bethany Lutheran Church or the Lindsborg Community Library. Or, just go to a Lindsborg coffee shop and buy a cup for yourself and a friend.