Robert Pearson had a vast love for life by helping to build church structures and radio stations around the world, his son John said.

Bearing the call letters, W9KKL, the U.S. Air Force veteran embraced missionary work and Christian radio while he served in the Philippines during the Korean conflict.

In September 2005, Pearson returned to the country as part of a missionary trip with his parish, First Baptist Church of Hammond.

"He has donated many hours and dollars," John Pearson said.

Pearson drove the church bus for teen soul winning, sang in the choir and served as a deacon and teacher during his 37-year tenure.

He was an avid photographer who enjoyed sharing pictures and taped Christian music.

Born in Chenoa, Ill., as the oldest of three, Pearson graduated from Kankakee High School in 1951.

The next year, Pearson met his future wife, Rose Marie, when she complimented his solo on Good Friday. The two married in December.

Pearson termed her husband "loving, devoted and true blue."

"I always knew where he was and what he was doing," she said. "He never told a lie to me."

Dianne Robinson said her father was "genuine, and he loved people and the Lord."

She added, "He always had time for us kids and his grandkids. He must have told us a hundred times how proud of us he was even if we didn't do something worthy."

Pearson retired as a welder after working 35 years at Ford Motor Co.

John Pearson said afterhis father struggled with leukemia almost three years, he said, "Get my clothes, I'm going home.

"We think he meant Heaven."