OBITUARY: Gayle L. 'Pete' Petersen
Gayle L. "Pete" Petersen, 77, of Marion, passed away at 11:58 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.
Pete was born on Oct. 20, 1935, in Lincoln to Lester K. and Lanora (Karr) Petersen. He married Violet Wilson on Feb. 8, 1973, in Harrisburg. She survives in Marion.
Pete served his country honorably while enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. Once honorably discharged, he began a 38-year career as a Station Engineer for the Illinois Department of Corrections at the Illinois Youth Center in Harrisburg.
He was a member of the First Christian Church in Eldorado. He was also an active member of the Marion Masonic Lodge, Williamson County Shriner's and the Harrisburg American Legion. In his spare time he enjoyed watching Eldorado High School Sports, the IHSA Holiday tournament, and he has been a season ticket holder for the Southern Illinois Miners from the start. He was even featured in a couple of articles in The Southern for his steady attendance at Miners games.
Survivors include his wife, Violet Petersen of Marion; two sons, Jerry Wathen of Park Forest and Ty Petersen and wife Jamie of Vienna; two daughters, Kim Kennedy and husband Tommy of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Nicole King and husband Tiger of Rossville, Ga.; four grandchildren, Sarah King and husband Jason of Cypress, Travis and Kaitlyn Kennedy of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Jonathan King of Rossville, Ga.; three great-grandchildren, Kolten, Addison and Cadence; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date for family and friends. Blue Funeral Home in Marion assisted the family with memorial arrangements.
Memorial donations are suggested to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children and will be accepted at Blue Funeral Home/ 1704 North Court St/ Marion, Ill. 62959.
For more information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.bluefuneralhome.com