Lanny Peterson

LANNY DERUE PETERSON

Cedar Rapids

Lanny DeRue Peterson, 73,

of Hiawatha, died Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Vigil service: 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at the church, with visitation to follow until 7:30 p.m. Officiating will be Archbishop Michael Jackels, Father Donald Klein and Father Phil Thompson. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Lanny was born Oct. 6, 1943, the son of Elmer and Elsie (Lundberg) Peterson in Cherokee, Iowa. He graduated from Rembrandt High School in 1961. Lanny then went on to graduate from Cornell College with a bachelor's degree and from Northeast Missouri State with a master's degree.

On July 5, 1975, he was married to Maxine Novak at St. Pius X Catholic Church. After her death in 1995, Lanny re-examined his spirituality and converted to Catholicism.

Lanny taught English at Linn-Mar High School for six years and language arts at Kennedy High School for seven years. He was an insurance agent for State Farm for over 25 years. Lanny was very involved at St. Pius X Catholic Church, serving as a lector and eucharistic minister and on the Liturgy Commission. In 2003, he was ordained as a deacon with the Archdiocese of Dubuque and served at St. Pius X Catholic Church.

Lanny umpired high school baseball for over 30 years. He was inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Lanny served as past president and on the board of directors for Iowa High School Athletic Association as well as the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. He was a host "Dad" for the Cedar Rapids Minor League Baseball teams. Lanny was a member of the Cedar Rapids Kernels Advisory Board and a volunteer coordinator for the Host Family Program for Cedar Rapids Baseball Club. He was inducted into the Cedar Rapids Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

Survivors include seven children, Jeffrey (Francesca) Novak of Lake Oswego, Ore., Matthew (Jo Lilledahl) Novak, Thomas (Debi) Novak of Albuquerque, N.M., Christine (Ron) Schantz, Susan Novak, Katherine (Bryce English) Novak and Robert (Kathy Kirschner) Novak of Omaha, Neb.; 16 grandchildren, A.J. Novak, Kahle Novak, David (Amy Collett) Novak, James Novak, Sarah Novak, Austin Henderson, Ben Novak, Keith Novak, Nolan Novak, Ashley (Matt) Studt, Nick Everhart, Austin Schantz, Sydney Schantz, Aubrey (Stephen) Marek, Lauren (John) Hopkins, Jacob (Samantha) Pipkin; five great-grandchildren, Connor, Malena, Viola, Eisley and Rhemi; one brother, Larry D. Peterson; several cousins; and special friends, Tom Jarom, Father Don Klein and Jan, Tim and Sarah Camp.

He was preceded in death by his wife and his parents.

Lanny's family would like to thank the many friends and neighbors for their acts of kindness shown to Lanny during his fight with multiple myeloma. Your prayers and support have been greatly appreciated.

Lanny lived a life dedicated to faith, family and baseball.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Pius X Catholic Church, Metro Catholic Outreach or Cedar Rapids Kernels Foundation.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.