Harold James Peterson

Harold James Peterson, age 93, passed away on September 14, 2024. He was born October 3, 1930 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Sparta, Wisconsin, and was the first-born son of Irie Herbert and Edith Evangeline (Luedtke) Peterson. He attended Portland Center grade school near Cashton, Wisconsin, where he graduated from High School in 1948. He attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and graduated in 1952 with a BA in Social Psychology. He then attended Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, a graduate school to prepare for his calling to parish ministry in the Lutheran Church. He received his degree in 1956.

While at the seminary, he attended the Lutheran Student Association at the University of Minnesota where he met Margene Johnson, the secretary to the campus Pastor. They became engaged and married on August 21, 1954, at Grace University Lutheran Church in southeast Minneapolis. The couple moved to West Allis, Wisconsin to serve his year of Internship at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church with Pastor Einer Larson.

He was ordained in his home church of Immanuel Lutheran Church near Cashton, Wisconsin, on June 10, 1956. He was ordained by Dr. JW Ylvisaker, president of Luther College.

After his ordination, he accepted calls to serve the Lord in Battle Lake, Minnesota, Eau Claire, Sparta, Stoughton and Pewaukee (all in Wisconsin). Lastly, he served at Shepherd of the Desert Church in Sun City, Arizona. He retired in 1996 and remained living in the house on Mission Lane until 2011, when he and Margene moved to Royal Oaks Life Care Community in Sun City.

During parish ministry, he served as chaplain in the US Army NG 47th Viking Division, US Army reserve XIV Corps, Lutheran Social Services in Wisconsin, Methodist Hospital “God Squad”, Dane County Sheriff’s department and Rodeo Cowboy Association.

He always loved music and sang in the Nordic Cathedral Choir at Luther College, Luther Seminary Choir, Ah-Men singers and church choirs wherever they lived. He also rang Hand Bells. A special remembrance was in 1948 when he played first chair trombone in the band in Madison, Wisconsin for the State Centennial celebration.

The loves of his life were his loving wife and ministry partner Margene, and their five children, Mark (Becky), Karen, Bruce, Bryan and Kristen. He had 9 grandchildren, Amber (Dave), Christa (Jesse), Trevor, Kaitlin (Frank), Betsy (Matt), Jennifer, Maxwell, Sophia and Alek. He also had six great-grandchildren, Alexis, Andrew (Madeline), Alexander, Ella, Annalise and Jachin.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Roger William Peterson. His life-partner, Margene, preceded him in death on August 13, 2017. He leaves behind brothers Donald, (Dorothy), John (Sandra), Luther (Bonnie), and sister Elizabeth.

Memorial services will be held at American Lutheran Church, 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, Arizona on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Flowers may be sent to American Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Lutheran Church.