Frank A. Piersol (1911-2010)
PIERSOL, PETERSON, KERNAHAN, BECK
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 3/1/2010 at 07:22:50
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, February 25, 2010.
Frank A. Piersol, 98, longtime resident of Iowa City, died Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, at Legacy Gardens in Iowa City. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with the Rev. Paul Akin officiating. Private family graveside services will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in his memory to the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band. Online condolences for his family may be sent to www.gayandciha.com .
Frank was born Oct. 27, 1911, in Clarkfield, Minn., the son of George and Jessie (Peterson) Piersol. He graduated from Rockwell High School in Rockwell, Grinnell College in 1933, and later earned a master’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1943. He began his long and distinguished career in music as band director at high schools in Stanley, Maynard, Osage, and Waterloo West before joining the faculty at Iowa State University in 1944. Professor Piersol was the director of bands at ISU until accepting the same position at the University of Iowa in 1967. After retiring from the University of Iowa in 1980, he continued to serve as band director of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, a position he held for 22 years from 1971 to 1993.
He had a very long and notable career of accomplishments and recognitions, including the Cardinal Key from ISU, the Distinguished Service award from the Iowa Music Educators Association, the Edwin Franko Goldman Award from the American School Band Directors Association, the Karl King Distinguished Service Award from the Iowa Bandmasters Association and the National Federation Interscholastic Music Association Award. He served as president of the College Band Directors National Association, the Iowa Bandmasters Association and the Iowa Music Educators Association. In 1958, he was selected for membership in the American Bandmasters Association and served on its board of directors. He was a guest conductor, lecturer and judge for festivals, contests and music camps in 40 states, Europe, Canada and Mexico, and published more than 90 works of music and a series of concert marches. He was a longtime member of the Iowa City Noon Rotary Club, serving for years as song leader and a term as president.
On June 22, 1935, he married Zaida Mae Kernahan in Mount Vernon. The couple shared more than 60 years of marriage.
His family includes his two sons and their wives, Jon and Melissa Piersol, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Jim and Nancy Piersol, of Williamsburg; grandchildren, Kara Beck (Andy), of Lakewood, Colo., Betsy Piersol (Sri Vemuri), of Richmond, Va., Amy Piersol, of Decatur, Ga., Michael Piersol (Michelle), of Crofton, Md., Dave Piersol, of Las Vegas, and Lynn Piersol, of Las Vegas; four great-grandchildren, Drew and Ella Beck, and Hannah and Andrew Piersol; and a host of friends, including a special companion, Connie Dautremont, of Iowa City.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and two brothers, John and George Piersol.
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