Arthur Hadley Pierce, age 74, passed away on June 18,2026 in the Town of Gale, Wisconsin.

Born on October 25, 1951, in Madison, Wisconsin, Art lived a life filled with dedication to family, friends, and passions.  Art began his education in a one room schoolhouse in the rural town of Cottage Grove, attending first grade there before moving on to McFarland Grade School and later McFarland High School, where he graduated in 1969.  He pursued a year of college studying geology but ultimately decided it wasn’t the right path for him.

In 1971, Art was drafted into the US Army and served until 1973.  Stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, he worked as a mechanic repairing equipment damaged during the Vietnam War.  His service earned him several honors, including the National Defense Medal and recognition as both a Sharpshooter (Rifle M-14) and an Expert (Rifle M-16).

Art’s professional life was defined by his skill and dedication, mainly as a diesel mechanic.  Known for his expertise and reliability, he was highly sought after in his field.  He worked at Gobel Freight, POLK, Swanson, and Modern Crane, to name a few.  Beyond his work, Art had a creative spirit and a knack for fabrication.  He often made his own tools and enjoyed crafting unique items with his hands.  But his favorite job, after retirement, was working at the Blockhouse, where he said he was so lucky to talk to his friends all day and get paid for it.  His “friends’ family” is huge, and he loved every one of them.  Art’s hobbies reflected his zest for life and love of sharing with others.

At home, he embraced gardening and became known for making hot jellies, salsa, tomato sauces, and more– taking over these tasks from Diane with enthusiasm.  His culinary creativity extended to wine making; Art could craft wine from nearly anything–even carrots–and delighted in sharing his creations with friends.  His adventurous palate also led him to grow every hot pepper he could find, resulting in some fiery concoctions that were not for the faint of heart. Earlier on, he was an avid Harley Davidson enthusiast who took great joy in riding his ’48 Hardtail motorcycle.

Above all else, Art cherished his relationships with family and friends.  He is survived by his beloved wife, Diane Borgwardt of 36 years; daughter Sarah Pierce; son Sam Pierce; a daughter and son by a previous marriage, Anne McGhee and Steven Pierce; grandchildren Keira and Julia Block:  Lyla, Evie and William Pierce; sisters Annette Stott (Don), Linda Ellestad (Jim), Huldah Ellestad (Mark), brothers Phil Pierce (Carrie), and David Pierce (Leah).  He was predeceased by his parents Peter Hadley Pierce and Huldah Jean Pierce.

He was very proud of both Sarah, who became a doctor, and Sam, who is a firefighter.

Art will be remembered as a kind-hearted man who brought joy to those around him through his humor, generosity, and vibrant personality.  His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.  May Art’s legacy bring comfort to those who loved him as they celebrate a life well-lived.

The family will receive friends from 11:00-12:00pm, Saturday, July 11, 2026, with a memorial service starting at 12:00pm at The Gathering Place, 133 Mason St., Onalaska.

Food will be served after service.

Condolences may be made to the family by visiting CouleeCremation.com.