Meg and George Peirce

George Peirce was fixing the clutch on his red Triumph TR3A outside of the music building at Simpson College one afternoon in 1963 when he became startled, jumped and hit his head on the undercarriage. He rolled out from beneath the vehicle to see a woman named Meg Bethke.

Meg had just finished with her music lesson. On her walk home, she saw someone—she had no idea who—working on a car and she made the impulsive decision to tickle him.

That encounter marked the beginning of George and Meg Peirce’s relationship. They dated throughout college, lost touch, then reconnected again. They’ve been married for nearly 30 years.

George and Meg credit Simpson with not only bringing them together but preparing them for successful careers and lives, so they decided to leave a legacy and include the college in their will.

For the Peirces, the question wasn’t why, but why not?

By including Simpson College in their will, they have established a legacy that will have a positive impact on the lives of generations of Simpson College students.

The Peirces give to a number of charitable organizations, but the decision to include Simpson in their will was primarily to eliminate the element of surprise. The process was simple, and the gift will benefit their beloved Simpson College.

“It’s better to let the organization know your intentions in advance than to let it be a surprise,” George says. “So, why not make it known?”

You can join the Peirces in establishing a legacy at Simpson. To learn how you can include the college in your will please contact Chris Goodale '86 at chris.goodale@simpson.edu or 515-770-1426.