Theodore Peterson

Theodore Peterson died at Sunnyview Care Center in Ankeny on Jan. 29, 2010. As he looked up at his loving son with those beautiful blues one last time, Mark told him it was OK to go. A celebration of life service was held Tuesday at St. James Lutheran Church, 5665 Merle Hay Road, Johnston, Iowa 50131 (www.stjamesjohnston.org). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. James organ fund or to Iowa Lutheran Hospital.

Ted Peterson

Please join the family in honoring Ted by visiting his memorial at www.mem.com.

Ted was born in Jacksonville, Fla., to Fred and Anna (Kreutz) Peterson, on Feb. 9, 1919. He grew up in Morningside and Sioux City, graduating from East High School in January, 1937, so, "we had to shovel snow so people could come to our graduation parties." He graduated from Augustana College & Seminary, Rock Island, Ill., in 1945 and was ordained into the Lutheran Church, Augustana Synod, 1946, in Duluth, Minn. He served churches in Sandwich, Ill., ('46-'49), Hobart, Ind. ('49-'51), Dunnell, Minn. ('51-'58), Galveston, Texas (58-60), Montevideo, Minn. (60-66), Litchfield, Minn. ('66-'75) and Annandale, Minn. In Litchfield he was also administrator and chaplain of Augustana Homes ('66-'79). He also served as Chaplain Services Consultant with Gold Medallion Nursing Centers in the Twin Cities.

He served on the Minnesota State Association Board for Nursing Homes and as chairman of an advisory council to the State Health Department on Nursing Homes. That council re-wrote the book of rules for nursing homes.

Ted and Hazel Johnson were married May 5, 1944 and had three children, Claudia, Tim and Mark. Hazel died in 1989. Ted remarried to Claudia Goodrich, a sister-in-law, in July, 2004. Ted was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel, son-in-law Robert Polzin, and son Timothy.

Ted was a caring and compassionate man to everyone he met. He gave his heart to so many, that it wore out. Family was of utmost importance to Ted. He prayed, visited, counseled, and told stories regularly and frequently. Ted performed the baptism and marriage ceremonies for all his children, and his last official pastoral duty was his grand-daughter Tiffany's wedding in 2009.

Survivors include wife, Claudia Goodrich, daughter, Claudia Polzin, son Mark (Dawn) Peterson , daughter-in-law Kathy Papatola; step-children Dennis (Julie Schubert) Goodrich, Luann (Dennis) Wangeman, Karen (Ray) Walters-Crammond; grandchildren Tiffany (John) Heppelmann, Chase Peterson and Marrissa Papatola; step-grand children Christine and Rachel Goodrich, Jana (Lance) Hammann, Andrea (Kevin) Orth, Shannon and Meagan Walters, Mary Beth (Barnett) Turk, Rob (Barb) Polzin, and Barry (Lisa) Polzin and 11 great grandchildren.