Wanda Jean “Jeannie” (Bamberger) Pierce

June 6, 1934 – January 13, 2026

Jeannie Pierce went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 13, 2026, surrounded by her family, after a brief illness. She was 91, was as sharp as a tack, and kept her fantastic sense of humor until that day.

Born and raised on her family’s farm, about 3 miles outside Perry, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Leopold Bamberger and Wanda Shiever. Jeannie was a strong woman and was proud that both sides of her family took part in and acquired their property through the Land Rush in 1889. She came from two family lines of tough, determined people who built sod houses and persevered to start some of the first businesses in the Oklahoma Territory.

She attended a one-room schoolhouse until she was bused to Perry High School. That is where she met the love of her life, Judson Howard Piece Jr. He enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Hawthorne, Nevada. After Jeannie graduated high school, they were married in Fallon, Nevada on November 29, 1952, and honeymooned in Reno, Nevada.

They moved back to Oklahoma and Judson attended veterinary school at Oklahoma State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude and the top veterinary student in America, while she was a secretary at OSU and raised her first two boys. They then moved to Boston, MA for Judson’s residency, and then to Victoria, BC, where Judson was invited to work as a veterinarian. They finally moved to Reno, NV and opened the Reno Animal Hospital in 1964.

Jeannie set up and ran the office of the Reno Animal Hospital for many years and continued to be the bookkeeper for the practice until Judson retired at age 80, in 2012. Jeannie enjoyed running the front office, where she met casino owners, state senators, and a lot of Reno’s who’s who, as well as many others who became fast friends.

She enjoyed meeting new people and became involved with many different organizations. She joined the Twentieth Century Club, where she became an officer and a lifetime member. She also volunteered with the Rotary Club of Reno. Jeannie was also part of many bridge groups throughout the area where she met some of her most beloved friends. She did all of these things while raising her four children and being the best mother her children could ever have – filling their lives with love, fun, humor and adventure.

Jeannie loved to travel and made it to almost every state, including Hawaii and Alaska. She traveled throughout Europe, Greece, the Mediterranean, Australia, and New Zealand, as well. She was a wonderful cook, and many have said that her fried chicken and her gourmet meals were the best they ever had. She threw the most elegant parties.

She was a fantastic piano player and could play everything from boogie-woogie, jitterbug, and the Tennessee Waltz, to her favorite hymns, all by ear. Jeannie was a master at fishing and was an avid football fan to the very end, always rooting for her OSU Cowboys, her Chiefs and her 49ers.

Preceding her in death was her husband of 69 years, Dr. Judson Howard Pierce, her brother Lee Stephen Bamberger, her brother Wilbur, “Bud” Bamberger, and her grandson, Brian Lee Pierce.

Survivors include her son Dr. Judson Pierce (Cheryl), her son Jeffrey Pierce (Hilda), her son Matthew Pierce, and her daughter Julie Duvall (Duane), 9 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren.

A service will be held at Walton’s Funeral and Cremations – Sierra Chapel, 875 West 2nd Street, Reno, NV, 89503, on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 8:30 am until 9:30 am.