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John W. Peterson, age 80 of Gaylord, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2008, at Oak Terrace Health Care Center of Gaylord.

Funeral Service was Thursday, July 24, 2008, at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Winthrop, with interment in Riverside Cemetery, St. Mathias Township, Crow Wing County, rural Brainerd.

Memorials preferred to Gideon’s International, Evangelical Covenant Church, or the Gaylord Rotary Club for the STRIVE Scholarship.

Clergy officiating were the Rev. Kyle Kachelmeier and the Rev. Mark Harder.

John Walter Peterson was born on July 18, 1928, in Brainerd. He was the son of Walter and Marguerite (Anderson) Peterson. John was baptized as an infant. He received his education in Brainerd and was a 1946 graduate of Washington High School. John went on to further his education and received his Bachelors of Science degree in 1957. He continued his education and received his Masters Degree in 1966, both at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus.

John entered the U.S. Army on January 18, 1951, and served his country during the Korean War. He achieved the rank of Corporal and received the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, United Nations Service Medal, and the Merit Unit Citation. John received his Honorable Discharge on January 20, 1953.

John moved to Gaylord in 1957, where he was employed as the Sibley County Extension Agent. He retired from the Extension Service in 1986, and worked as a crop insurance adjustor. He also continued to work part time for Sibley County, doing water planning and working with environmental compliance issues, until his recent illness.

On May 22, 1960, John was united in marriage to Lois Johnson at the First Baptist Church in Brainerd. The couple resided in Gaylord. John and Lois were blessed with three children and they shared 35 years of marriage before Lois passed away on November 7, 1995.

John was an active member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Winthrop, where he taught adult and youth Sunday School, was an usher, served as a Trustee, and on the Deacon Board. He was very active with Gideon’s International. John was a dedicated member of the Gaylord Rotary Club (and a Paul Harris Fellow) where he served as a mentor for Sibley East students in the STRIVE program; he was also a member of the Manthey-Asmus American Legion Post #433 for more than 50 years.

In recent years, John enjoyed following and meeting several famous ice skaters. He attended several figure skating shows and had the opportunity to present them testaments on behalf of the Gideons.

John passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.

John is survived by his children, Mark LaCelle-Peterson and his wife, Kristina of Houghton, NY; Jane Peterson of Gaylord, and Dean Peterson of St. Paul; two grandchildren, Nathaniel LaCelle-Peterson and Linnea LaCelle-Peterson; brothers, Ben Peterson and his wife, Pauline of St. Peter, and Harvey Peterson and his wife, Bea of Brainerd; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Marguerite Peterson; and his Wife, Lois Peterson.

Casket bearers were David Bengtson, Chuck Peik, Ted Oman, Dave Gustafson, Joshua Fenlason and Micah Fenlason.