(picture) (veteran)

Roland E. Petersen, 86

Roland E. Petersen, 86, of Orum, died Thursday, June 18, 2009, at Arbor Manor in Fremont.

Services were Monday, June 22, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Orum. Interment with military honors was at the church cemetery.

Roland E. “Pete” Petersen was born June 21, 1922, at Cedar Bluffs to William and Sophia (Tetens) Petersen. He grew up on the family farm near Cedar Bluffs and was a 1941 graduate of Cedar Bluffs High School.

On July 31, 1944, he married Marie J. Roubal at North Bend.

He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II, and served from Sept. 18, 1942, until Sept. 15, 1945, and was stationed in the South Pacific. After his discharge from the service, he returned to the family property near Cedar Bluffs, where he farmed. He later started a carpentry business which he operated until his retirement. He moved to Battle Lake, Minn., in 1965 and operated a fishing resort for eight years. He retired in 1980 and moved to Orum.

He spent his later years woodcarving and enjoying his family and friends.

Mr. Petersen was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church at Orum; was a life member of American Legion Post No. 158 of Cedar Bluffs and VFW Post No. 8223 of North Bend; was a former member of VFA Post No. 874 at Battle Lake and was a past commander.

He is survived by his wife, Marie; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Ronald Kincanon of Fremont, and Jan and David Wahl of North Olmstead, Ohio; son and daughter-in-law, William F. “Bill” and Kathy Petersen of Orum; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Veryl Hapke of Cedar Bluffs.

He was preceded in death by an infant brother; and two sisters, Gretchen Allan and Betty Jane Duncan.

Memorials are suggested to Immanuel Lutheran Church of Orum, American Legion Post No. 158 of Cedar Bluffs, or VFW Post 8223 of North Bend.

Moser Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~