John Morris Peterson, a native Minnesotan more recently of Zion, Ill., died Sept. 5, 2009 at age 88.
John was born Aug. 4, 1921, to Iver and Laura (nee Paulson) Peterson in Freeborn County. He grew up on his parent’s farm near Hollandale where he attended Lerdal school.
John served in the United States Army with the 163rd Infantry in World War II. During his assignment to the South Pacific Theatre, he received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
After the war, John attended the Mankato Area Vocational School where he studied to be an auto mechanic. John worked as an auto mechanic and truck driver until he retired.
During his retirement, John loved riding his motorcycle, going to flea markets, and tinkering with cars but what gave him the most joy and kept him young at heart was helping to care for his grandchildren while their father was out to sea with the U.S. Navy.
John is survived by his former wife, Annabelle (nee Anderson) Peterson; his son, Parke Morris Peterson, of Zion, Ill.; his daughter, Amy Rukstales, of Phoenix, Ariz.; his granddaughters: Heather and Heidi Peterson of Zion, Ill.; and his grandson, Trevor Shane Peterson, of Moore, Okla.
John was preceded in death by his parents: Iver and Laura [nee Paulson] Peterson, of Hollandale; his brother, Manford Peterson, of Hollandale, and his son, Chane Iver Peterson.
A memorial service for John will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Woodland Hills Funeral Home, 1605 Woodland Ave., Mankato.