Alice Pierce

Alice Katherine née Obery Pierce passed away on January 23rd, 2025, from complications of melanoma. She was born in May 28th, 1957 to Orville and Theresa Hatke Obery in Lafayette, Indiana. She is preceded in death by her father, Orville Obery and grandson, William Padgett. She is survived by her mother, Theresa Haan, sisters Madonna Thelen, Jean Healer, Angela McGarvey and brother Gary Obery, her husband of 43 years John Pierce, their daughter, Melissa Padgett, son Nathaniel Pierce, and their three grandchildren, Chloe and Jonah Padgett and Charles Harada Pierce.

Alice taught music at the University of Minnesota Duluth from 2012 until her retirement in May 2023. Her frequent appearances with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera of the North were memorable occasions in the last part of her life. She was a longtime member of the singing ensemble of the Brandenburg State Theater in Cottbus, Germany. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:30 in the afternoon on February 8 in Weber Music Hall at the University of Minnesota Duluth. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Lyric Opera of the North (loonopera.org) Anchorage Chamber Music Festival (anchoragechambermusicfestival.org) or the artistic organization of your choice.