Vern Leroy Peterson

Vern lived a life that impacted many. Compassionate, wise, and humble, people sought him out for a listening ear and wise counsel, knowing that no matter what, they would be loved, not judged.

Although born in Nebraska, Vern moved with his family to Denver, Colorado when he was three. He grew up in Denver with his two older siblings, Robert (Bob), and Jeanette. (A third sibling, Gordon, died in infancy.)

Vern graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a bachelor’s degree in Physics, and spent the next two years in the military, teaching army personnel the science behind the way radio waves propagate. He moved on from there to attain a Masters in Astronomy and PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Indiana, Bloomington. While in Indiana, he met Roberta (Bobbe) Vye Elsey. They got married a year and a half later, on June 3, 1961.

Accepting a job with the Bureau of Standards, Vern and Bobbe returned to Boulder in 1963, shortly after the birth of their first child (Susan). While in Boulder, Vern’s two sons, Stephen and Scott were born. When Scott was only 6 weeks old, the young family moved to Peru, so that Vern could conduct research in aeronomy and equatorial studies of the ionosphere, at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory in Lima, Peru.

Vern and Bobbe fell in love with the Peruvian people and culture, and planned to stay in Peru indefinitely, but because of political unrest, the United States government pulled all their personnel out of Peru in 1969. Although the family had to return to the United States, this first trip to Peru marked the beginning of a lifetime and passion for travel. By the time he retired, Vern had already visited over 50 different countries, most of them with Bobbe, throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Many of these were research-oriented trips where Vern both conducted research and spoke at conferences.

Upon returning to the United States from Peru, Vern accepted a job as a physics professor at the University of Utah at Logan. He also accepted a position as faculty advisor for the students involved in Campus Crusade at the university. The house was always full of college students, who would come to learn, to grow, to be loved, and just to hang out, enjoying one another’s company. The house would fill with the flavors and sounds of fellowship. Regularly, Vern and Bobbe would host full dinners at home for large groups of college students at a time.

In 1974, the family moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where Vern taught atmospheric physics and meteorology at the University of Sao Paulo. At the same time, he and Bobbe served with the Navigators Ministry, working with young Brazilian professionals. Once again, the house was full of people.

Returning to Colorado in 1977, the family took up residence in Colorado Springs, where Vern started his own business and taught part-time at the University of Colorado. The family moved again in 1980, this time to California, but Vern and Bobbe’s hearts were always in Colorado, so they came back again in 1986, this time for good, and bought a house in Boulder County.

The first few years back in Boulder were full of sorrows and joys. The greatest sorrow was the death of Vern and Bobbe’s son, Scott Hjalmer Peterson in 1989. The greatest joys were the marriages of Stephen (to Nancy King) and Susan (to Being Kung Yao), and the subsequent arrival of six grandchildren: Miles, Noah, and Jonas Peterson; and Sarah, Michele, and Gabriela Yao. Additional joys were the people who began coming through the doors of their home again. Vern and Bobbe began leading discipleship groups and opening their home to anyone in need. People came and went, some attending home groups, some living with them for a while, some staying for longer, as long as they had need. In their later years, Vern and Bobbe drew back somewhat from extensive ministry, but many of the people whose lives they touched over the years continued to stay in touch. Vern loved his Bible, and spent hours studying and memorizing Scripture. When his eyes began to fail him, he listened to an audio Bible. Vern faithfully read through the entire Bible every single year. He estimated that he had read the Bible over fifty times by the time he had to switch to an audio Bible. While in Boulder, Vern also enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially hiking with Bobbe up many of the 14ers in Colorado.

Vern is survived by his wife of 61 years, Roberta Elsey Peterson, his son, Stephen Edward Peterson (wife Nancy), his daughter, Susan Carole Peterson Yao (husband Being-Kung), and his six grandchildren. He has one living sibling (Bob), and is predeceased by siblings Jeanette and Gordon.

Matthew 22:37-39 tells us that the two most important commandments are to love God and to love those around us. Vern lived a life of love in every respect.

Vern was laid to rest in a private family Graveside Service on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. A Memorial Service was held for Vern on the same day at 1:00pm at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel in Longmont, where a reception did follow. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com for the Peterson Family.