In Memory of Meldon T. "Pete" Petersen

Meldon T. (Pete) Petersen, 90, 3014 8th St., Columbus, died suddenly  Tuesday July 2, 2002 at his home.  Funeral services are 9:30 am Saturday July 6 at Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus with the Rev. Michael V. Klatt officiating.  Visitation will be on Friday from 5-8 pm at McKown Funeral Home and on Saturday from 8:30 am until service time at the church.  There will be a family prayer service at 9:15 am Saturday, also at the church.  Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa with Military Honors by Ballou Post #332 American Legion Honor Guard.

 Mr. Petersen was born September 23, 1911 at Prairie Rose, Iowa, son of Christen and Botilda (Carstensen) Petersen. He grew up and graduated from high school at Elkhorn, Iowa, then attended business college in Omaha. Later, he worked at a lumberyard in Exira, Iowa. While there he met Adele Oldaker and they were married in Exira on February 26, 1939. In 1943, Mr. Petersen was drafted into the U. S. Navy and served at Bremerton (Washington) Naval Air Station from 1943 to 1945, when he was discharged. In 1948 Mr. and Mrs. Petersen moved to Norfolk when he became a salesman for Dutton-Lainson Company. In 1958 they moved to Columbus. He retired from Dutton-Lainson but continued to work part time in Columbus for many years.
He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Eagles. 

He is survived by two daughters, Julie (Mickey) Hile of Frederick, Maryland, Mary Beth (Ernest) Pope of Southlake, Texas; five grandchildren, Keri Youngner of Grayslake, Illinois; Martin Hile of Lovettsville, Virginia; Michelle, Melissa, and Michael Pope of South Lake, Texas; and five great grandchildren, Seth and Tessa Youngner of Grayslake, Illinois, and Calli and Clark Hile of Lovettsville, Virginia.
His parents; his wife Adele; four brothers, Ivy, Ansel, Jethro, and Cortland; and one sister, Otellia, preceded Mr. Petersen in death.