Phyllis J Pierce

MONONA - Phyllis Jean Pierce, age 83, of Monona, passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on July 20, 1937, in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Glenn Mosser and Mary (Stotler) Mosser. Phyllis is survived by her husband, Laurance; three children, Laura (John ) Keenan, Kathy (John) Torrence, and John (Debra) Pierce; godson, Chidi (Chinyere) Obasi; sister-in-law, Doris Mosser; seven grandchildren, Kayla (Mike) Shreves, Ryen Keenan, Pierce, Abbey and Sarah Torrence, Allison and Megan Pierce; and god-grandchildren, Chimamaka, Amara and Nnamdi Obasi. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Donald Mosser. Known as "Tutu" (Hawaiian for grandmother) not only by her grandchildren, Phyllis had a large circle of extended family members and friends. Phyllis has left a legacy of family love, leadership, and the importance of positively impacting others' lives. She had a natural ability to quietly gather those around her, playing the teacher and grandmother role to all. She attended Beloit College upon graduating from East High School in Rockford, IL. After taking a brief collegiate hiatus to raise her three children, Phyllis graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Education in 1973. A huge Badgers fan, she would ultimately raise a family of six other alumni - even knitting red and white Badger sweaters for her grandchildren. Phyllis taught at Sherman, Lapham, and Elvehjem elementary schools in the Madison School District for nine years. Administration, parents, and students alike knew they could rely on Phyllis to treat students in her classroom equally and with respect. She navigated classroom challenges with ease, including a 3rd/4th/5th-grade combination classroom and participating in the district's early attempts to bring special needs children into the classroom. Her 'teaching' skills extended way beyond the classroom. When Phyllis and her husband had the opportunity to purchase Millie's Pancake House and Shopping Village in Delavan, she left the field of education to run the "one-acre-under-roof" enterprise. She used her coaching skills to manage a 70-person staff and run the day-to-day operations of this Geneva Lakes-area "one-of-a-kind-destination," including a large restaurant and high-end gift, dress, linen, quilting, and sausage shops. After selling Millie's in 1983, she became president of Laurel Enterprises, a holding company of six different restaurants in Wisconsin and Illinois and a home-building enterprise. As such, she coached and managed 100's of employees for more than 20 years. She leaves behind a large extended family, which was just a naturally occurring thing to her; as such, she touched several different communities. The most shining example of this was born out of Tutu's and Larry’s involvement in the '70s in the Madison Friends of International Students at the university. They hosted many international students through the years for dinners and holidays but developed a special relationship with the Nwankwo Kalu and Mgbore (Beatrice) Obasi family from Nigeria. Phyllis became godmother to Chidi Obasi, born in Madison while his parents attended the university. The Obasi's returned to Nigeria but remained in touch through the years. Ultimately, Chidi returned to Madison to live with the Pierce's while earning his Ph.D. in Public Health at UW. Chidi and the Pierces played a crucial role in changing the face of Christ Presbyterian Church, helping form its International Ministry, ultimately creating an avenue of faith for many university international students. Beyond business and the church, Phyllis was actively involved in a wide variety of “communities” over the years. Friends and neighbors at Belvidere Park and Polynesian Shores Condominiums could always count on Tutu's open door for sourdough pancakes, Hawaiian dream cake and ribs, and cocktail hour and "pupus" at sunset. Combined, she served as a trustee on both associations’ boards for more than four decades. As a military wife, she was an active member of various Officer’s Wives Club and navigated multiple tours of duty separations with grace. She worked tirelessly to support her children's interests, becoming president of the Madison Figure Skating Club and co-chairperson of the Midwest Rowing Championships, an annual collegiate regatta hosted by the UW Men's Rowing team. She was a deacon and elder and taught Sunday School at Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison; she also was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Phyllis didn't just talk about loving others; she lived it. Her very essence was gathering family and friends together, often over food. She was a fantastic cook, inspiring two generations of cooks and authentic recipes in a family cookbook. She loved to travel, especially to Maui, and enjoyed gardening, sailing, fishing, water sports, and the art of knitting. It was essential to her that her children and grandchildren, especially, enjoy each other's company. She was the maternal creator of "all things lake life," instilling the love of water in her children and grandchildren. Tutu was incredibly witty and funny. While she could sometimes be the quiet one at dinner, she would toss a hilarious comment back to the group. She leaves a legacy of love, friends, and family and will be incredibly missed. But we are comforted to know that she is with her Lord and Savior. A private graveside burial is planned, and a celebration of life will be held later. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army of Wisconsin, Madison Friends of International Students or the ’Alzheimers & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420