Honorable John K. Pearson died peacefully on November 2, 2025. John was born on November 15, 1945, in Minneapolis to John S. and Jacqueline Pearson, who precede him in death.
John received his Bachelor of Arts from University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1968, majoring in German and History. While in college, friends introduced him to Sue and on June 22, 1968, John and Sue were married. The couple moved to Long Beach, California while John served in the United States Navy as a lieutenant from 1968 to 1969. Following this discharge from the Navy, John enrolled at the University of California-Hastings College of Law (now UC Law San Francisco), earning a Juris Doctorate in 1973. He was admitted to practice law in both California and Kansas.
John and Sue moved to Leavenworth, Kansas for a clerkship with United States District Judge Arthur J. Stanley, Jr. After his clerkship, John became an associate with the Wichita firm of Kahrs, Nelson, Fanning, Hite and Kellogg where he remained until 1977 when he joined the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank as a staff attorney.
John was instrumental in elevating the practice of bankruptcy after the enactment of the 1978 Bankruptcy Code. From 1979 until 1982, John served as an assistant United States Trustee in the newly created United States Trustee Program, a unit of the United States Justice Department tasked with monitoring all bankruptcy cases.
In 1982, John returned to private practice and joined McDowell, Rice and Smith, where he remained until his appointment to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas in 1986. During his tenure on the court, he authored thousands of opinions and orders, founded and nurtured bankruptcy councils of lawyers in each of the three Kansas divisions, and was one of the original group of judges appointed to the 10th Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. He retired from the bench in 2000. John then joined the Hinkle Elkouri law firm. In 2008, he moved to Lawrence, Kansas.
John was active in advancing the bankruptcy system. In 1984, as an early member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, John served as on its Board of Directors, 1989-98; Executive Committee, 1989-1994; Secretary, 1991-1995; and Chair, ABI Committee on Bankruptcy Rules. Upon becoming a judge, he joined the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges serving on its Board of Directors from 1991 to 1994.
Ever the scholar, John was a prolific writer and teacher. He authored, co-authored or contributed to over a dozen publications, wrote numerous articles and served on the faculty of a multitude of local, regional and national continuing legal education programs. John was an adjunct professor at the University of Kansas School of Law, Wichita State University and the President’s College School of Law. Outside of the classroom, he served as a mentor to countless young lawyers. He firmly believed the practice of law needed to reflect society and focused much of his encouragement and support on advancing the careers of minority and women lawyers.
In recognition of his efforts to improve the bankruptcy system, John was inducted as a Fellow in the inaugural class of the American College of Bankruptcy, an honorary public service association of national and international insolvency professionals who are invited to join based on a proven record of the highest standards of expertise, leadership, integrity, professionalism, scholarship, and service to the bankruptcy and insolvency practice and to their communities. Fellows exemplify the highest standards of integrity and excellence, mentoring younger practitioners while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the insolvency community.
John is survived by his wife, Sue, daughters Linnea and Kaaren, their husbands Antonis and Nicolas and his four grandchildren Stelios, Thekla, Sandrine and Soren as well as his brother Scott and sister Kris.
A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at 310 N Parker Circle, Lawrence, KS. Family and friends are invited to join in honoring and remembering a life well lived. Kindly RSVP to smpearson1@yahoo.com if you plan to attend. His family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to Kansas Public Radio at kansaspublicradio.org.
It was a joy knowing Judge Pearson, and I extend such good thoughts to his family. I was lucky enough to meet him when he was a new bankruptcy judge—his great intellect and great sense of humor impressed me in every encounter.
Sue, I’m so sorry to hear of John’s passing. I always enjoyed talking with both of you during his visits to OIC. He always kept us on our toes and there was never a dull moment. You and your family are in my thoughts during this difficult time.
John Pearson was a memorable and invaluable contributor to the bankruptcy law community. But, more importantly, John was a special character and personality for all who knew him, both professionally and personally. He was funny, smart, quick witted, clever, sometimes sardonic but always caring. John was a friend and colleague of all in the law community, and he was always a voice of wise and practical thought for advancing application of a generous and uplifting law. As a friend long ago and as a colleague over the years, John was a light and beacon of fairness and kindness. Sue, we have you and your family in our hearts during this time.
Sue, I was so sad to hear about John’s passing. I truly have missed seeing him and you at IMG. His humour was wonderful. He would say something so funny, but keep an absolute straight face. John was kind, generous and just an all around wonderful man. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
It was an honor to know Judge Pearson. I worked with him through farm bankruptcies while at Collingwood Grain. It was an honor for me when he ask me to review a book he was writing about farm bankruptcies. My sincere condolences to his family.
Fair winds and following seas sailor. “Boatswain… Standby to pipe the side… Shipmate’s going Ashore…” Thank you John for your service to this nation. U.S. Navy. Lieutenant.