Ronald Edgar Pierce

Ronald Edgar Pierce, 89, died on March 31 at Hope Hospice House in Cape Coral. He had lived for five years in the memory care wing of Atrium at Liberty Park, where he was a favorite among staff because of his gentle demeanor, his constant smile, his sense of humor and his love of hats.

Ron was born in Nekoosa, Wis., the first of Edgar and Genevieve Pierce's five sons. Edgar was a union electrician, and the family of seven spent many years following his work, living in a travel trailer from job to job throughout Northern Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. This no doubt informed Ron's love of house-boating and motor-homing, both of which he would come to joyfully share with his beloved wife, Helen, and their children, Kevin, Kathy and Kristy.

Ron and Helen moved their young family to Fort Myers from Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1964 to open WCAI-AM with business partners and mentors Truman and Trudy Morris. Ron had had several radio jobs by then, starting as a DJ at WLMJ-AM in Jackson, Ohio, and including stations in Ironwood, Mich.; Columbus, Ohio; and Wellston, Ohio (where, as "Sven Svensson," he hosted "The Polka Hour" every Sunday on WKOV-AM).

As general manager of WCAI in Fort Myers, and with Helen working by his side, Ron quickly earned admiration and respect as a leader in business and civic circles. He was a charter member and served as president of Rotary South, and he and Helen were founding members of Cypress Lake United Methodist Church. In addition to house-boating with the family, he often crewed aboard Mr. Morris' sailboats in regattas from Tampa to the Bahamas to Mexico, winning the race more often than not.

After 20 years, the Pierces and Morrises sold WCAI and set out to put WQEZ-FM Easy 99 on the air in Fort Myers Beach. While awaiting FCC licensing for the new station, Ron worked for a year in sales at WBBH-NBC TV. He then served as VP and general manager of WQEZ, again with Helen working by his side every day until the station sold in 1987.

Just 50 years old when they retired, Ron and Helen kept a condo in Fort Myers and spent several months a year on the road in a series of bigger RVs, visiting family and old friends and making new friends far and wide. They also had a legion of fans at Granada Lakes in South Fort Myers, where they kept their motor home and spent most weekends when they weren't traveling. At Granada Lakes, Ron was everyone's "IT guy" and the must-see entertainment on keyboard and vocals for every community get-together.

Above all, Ron and Helen took immense joy in their family, both immediate and extended. They danced a perfect polka from the day they were wed in Jackson, Ohio, at 20 years old (Ron never missed an opportunity to point out that Helen was five days older than him). They were married for 57 years, with Ron as Helen's devoted caregiver for several years before she died in 2014. He missed her and talked about her every day until his last.

Ron was also predeceased by his parents; his brother Denny and his son-in-law Ted Applegate. He is survived by his son Kevin (Cindy) Pierce; daughters Kathy (John) Graff and Kristy Applegate; brothers Monte (Delores), Jim (Sharon) and Tom (Josie) Pierce; sisters-in-law Sandy Pierce, Debbie Headd and Marlene Busher and brother-in-law David Leedy; grandchildren Brynn (Tristan) Currier, Kelly (Joshua) Doxtator, Morgan (Michael) Gardner, Jane (Reid) Carroll, Emily (Matt) Francois, Chalmers (Tiffany) Pierce, Trey Graff, Abigail Graff and Grace Graff; and great-grandchildren Xavier, Kya and Jaxon Doxtator, Cora and Evie Currier; McKenna and Michael Gardner; Matty, Ella and Bernadette Francois; and Vivian Carroll. Cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and many friends also cherish his memory.

A celebration of Ron's full and faithful life will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Cypress Lake United Methodist Church. Memorial gifts can be made to Hope Hospice or Cypress Lake United Methodist Church.

It is well with his soul.