More detail on this person: Merrill T. "Pete" Peterson LTC, RET. "The Colonel" The Colonel peacefully passed away on May 1, 2006 at St. Mark's Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born in Grace, Idaho to Enoch and Lovenia Peterson on Sept 19, 1928. He was the 8th of nine children. He married his sweetheart JoAnne Kannes Peterson in Monterey, California on October 17, 1951. Merrill enlisted in the U. S. Army near the end of World War II and served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. After completing Officer Candidate School he served as a fixed wing pilot for 20 years, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on April 1, 1972. The Colonel received numerous awards and was presented a Bronze Star for his courageous efforts during the Vietnam War. Following his military service he was an independent insurance agent, later becoming a car salesman during his retirement years at Willey Ford in Bountiful. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed all sports and in particular his position as vice-president of the Utah Stars Booster Club where he befriended many players and coaches. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife JoAnne on November 1, 2004, several brothers and sisters and close in-laws. He is survived by his children Elaine (Paul) Schwanebeck, Tom (Roma) Peterson, Jim (Kim) Peterson, his sisters Lois Jardine and Garfaye (Stan) Harrison and his grandchildren, Michael (Angela) Petrogeorge, Joni (Nick) Clark, Brooke and Christopher Peterson, Whitney, Danielle and Christina Peterson. Great grandsons, Zachary and Jonathan Petrogeorge, Godmother, Toula K. Leventis, goddaughter, Georgette Leventis; and sisters-in-law, Sophie (Nick) Comas and Evelyn Peterson; and several nieces and nephews. There will be a viewing Thursday, May 4, 2006 at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 Highland Dr. from 6-8 pm with a Trisagion Prayer Service at 7:30 pm. Funeral services will be Friday, May 5, 2006, at Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, 5335 So. Highland Dr. at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery with full military honors. Pete and Jody are together again watching over their family and friends who they dearly loved. In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations to the American Heart Association.
Burial information: Mount Olivet Cemetery, Salt Lake City, UT
This information was last updated 03/24/2020
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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