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Gary Petersen
GARY D. PETERSEN
Wyoming, Iowa
Gary D. Petersen, 64, of Apple Valley, Minn., formerly of Wyoming, Iowa, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz.
Services will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. T. Edwards Breed at Zion American Lutheran Church in Wyoming on Saturday, March 4, at 11 a.m., with burial in Wyoming Cemetery. Visitation will be at Lahey Funeral Home in Wyoming on Friday, March 3, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Gary Dwaine Petersen was born Sept. 18, 1952, in Maquoketa, Iowa, the son of Melvin and Shirley Bock Petersen. He graduated from Midland High School in Wyoming in 1970. He attended Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls for two years and then transferred to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, where he graduated in 1974, with a degree in business finance.
He married Christine Velasco on Jan. 4, 1975, in Hayden, Ariz. Gary worked for the railroads in Cedar Rapids and in Houston, Texas, for a short time before beginning his career with Green Giant in Le Sueur, Minn. He completed his career as director of transportation with General Mills in Minneapolis. During his career he served as president of the Food Shippers of America Convention.
Gary's life centered around his family and he enjoyed being involved with his son's activities. He absolutely adored his grandchildren. Gary was a sports fan and especially loved the Vikings. Canadian fishing trips with his family members and friends provided many good stories. He lived his entire life with a positive attitude and a ready smile in spite of the multitude of health problems throughout the past years.
He is survived by his wife, Christine; his sons, Gary Keith (Megan), and their daughter, Ella, of Lakeville, Minn.; Scott (Nayeli), and their children, Adrian and Sofia, of Tucson, Ariz., and Danny of Apple Valley, Minn.; his mother, Shirley Petersen of Wyoming, Iowa; his brother, Rick (Sue) Petersen of Wilton; and his sisters, Linda Erickson and Kristy (Tom) Oberbreckling of Wyoming.
He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin; and his brother, Paul Petersen.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.laheys.com.
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