Forrest "Pete" Petersen
April 7, 1923 — November 26, 2018
Forrest M. "Pete" Petersen, the son of Marius P and Minnie (Nelsen) Petersen was born on April 7, 1923 in Harlan, Iowa. When he was a small child they moved to Elk Horn and later Lake View, Iowa. He attended school in Elk Horn and then Lake View. After graduating high school from Lake View, he enlisted in the United States Naval Air Force where he served for six years (1942-1948) mainly in the South Pacific.
On December 18, 1943, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Johansen at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, Iowa. Two sons were born to this union.
After his years in the Navy, he and his wife made their home in Audubon where he was employed at the Coast to Coast hardware store. In 1952, he and his family moved to Harlan where he was in partnership with Waldo Johansen in the Coast to Coast store for 27 years. After selling his business, he worked with his son in their own electronics shop in Harlan. Later, he drove a bus for Harlan Community Schools for 20 years. Driving the bus was one of the highlights of his life.
He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He was an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan where he served as president of the church council for 4 years and sang in the choir for 43 years. He had also been a member of the Chamber of Commerce, The Kiwanis Club, the American Legion, and the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America.
He died on November 26, 2018 having reached the age of 95. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, his son Michael, his brother Clarit and sister in law Nina, and his sister Rhoda and brother in law Robert.
He is survived by his son, Stephen and his wife Carrie of Goodyear, AZ, his daughter in law Nancy of Kalona, IA, his grandson Stephen (Mike) and his wife Carrie of Columbus, NE and his grandson Brad and his wife Katie of West Des Moines, IA. He was also very proud of his 3 great-granddaughters, Lilly, Audrey and Charlotte.
On December 18, 1943, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Johansen at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, Iowa. Two sons were born to this union.
After his years in the Navy, he and his wife made their home in Audubon where he was employed at the Coast to Coast hardware store. In 1952, he and his family moved to Harlan where he was in partnership with Waldo Johansen in the Coast to Coast store for 27 years. After selling his business, he worked with his son in their own electronics shop in Harlan. Later, he drove a bus for Harlan Community Schools for 20 years. Driving the bus was one of the highlights of his life.
He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He was an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan where he served as president of the church council for 4 years and sang in the choir for 43 years. He had also been a member of the Chamber of Commerce, The Kiwanis Club, the American Legion, and the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America.
He died on November 26, 2018 having reached the age of 95. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, his son Michael, his brother Clarit and sister in law Nina, and his sister Rhoda and brother in law Robert.
He is survived by his son, Stephen and his wife Carrie of Goodyear, AZ, his daughter in law Nancy of Kalona, IA, his grandson Stephen (Mike) and his wife Carrie of Columbus, NE and his grandson Brad and his wife Katie of West Des Moines, IA. He was also very proud of his 3 great-granddaughters, Lilly, Audrey and Charlotte.
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