J. Michael Pierce, 68 J. Michael Pierce – March 6, 1943 to July 31, 2011 – age 68, of  Excelsior, Minn., died peacefully in a hospice home. Michael fought a  long and hard battle with Alzheimer’s. He is survived by wife, Patricia; three sons, Matthew Pierce of  Chicago, Jon (Kimberly) Pierce of Minnetonka, Minn., and Michael  (Joni) Pierce of Minnetonka, Minn. Michael was the proud grandfather  of Kylee, 5, and Ryan, 1.   He is also survived by his mother, Mary K. Pierce; six brothers and  sisters, Kitty White, Patty (Larry) Mauren, Susan (Tom) Hedlund, Fred  (Carol) Pierce, Janet (Wayne) Borgeson and Jim (Leslie) Pierce; and  several nieces and nephews. Michael was preceded in death by his father, Fritz. Michael is from Minneapolis and Milwaukee. He is the former owner and  president of Hamlet & Smith Inc., a manufacturer’s representative  firm based in Milwaukee. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the  Church of St. Therese, 18323 Minnetonka Blvd., Deephaven, Minn.  Visitation was held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s  Association, Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter, 4550 W. 77th St., Suite  #200, Minneapolis, MN, 55435 (www.alz.org/mnnd/). Gill Brothers Funeral Chapels of Minneapolis is serving the family.  For online condolences, please visit www.GILLBROTHERS.com.