Wayne Peterson
July 9, 1927 ~ May 23, 2010
Wayne F. Peterson, age 82 of Nashua, Iowa died Sunday May 23, 2010, at Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2010, at Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home, Nashua with Pastor Linda Myren officiating.
Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery with Jeff Peterson, Alex Peterson, Evan Peterson, Ann Peterson, David McDermott, and Scott McDermott serving as pallbearers. Full military honors will be conducted graveside by the Nashua VFW Post #6792.
Friends may call 4:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday May 25, 2010 at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in Nashua. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the service Wednesday at the funeral home.
Wayne Francis Peterson was born July 09, 1927 in Shell Rock, Iowa the son of Walter and Gertrude (Marcoux) Peterson. He attended Shell Rock High School, graduating in May of 1944. Wayne continued his education at the Iowa State Teachers College, earning Bachelors degrees in Physical Education and Social Studies.
On June 19, 1945, Wayne entered the United States Navy serving during World War II. He was stationed in the Philippines and worked as a storekeeper. He was honorably discharged on August 17, 1946.
On August 20, 1948, Wayne was united in marriage to Helen Peterson in Shell Rock, Iowa. To this union, four children were born. The couple spent three years Lohrville, Iowa, where he taught and coached at the high school. They then moved to Nashua, where they spent the remainder of their lives and raised their children.
Wayne was self-employed, starting his business in Nashua in May of 1951. He was the top producer for his crop insurance company in Iowa for several years, and a few of those years was the top in the nation. Wayne applied his teaching background to his insurance field, giving talks and teaching at insurance adjuster schools across the Midwest. He also taught across Iowa in farmer night classes and classes on salesmanship.
Wayne was very active in the Nashua community. During his speeches he would often preach, “Don’t just live in a community, be a participant.” He lived by those words, serving for seven years on the Nashua School Board, the city council for 12 years, and was the Nashua mayor for four years. He also served for several years on the Chickasaw County Conference Board. He held memberships to the Nashua VFW, American Legion, and the Lions Club where he worked many fish fries. His hobbies included golf, fishing, and photography. He had a great love for baseball, and along with Bill Olson, he started the Nashua summer league, city league, and Babe Ruth league programs.
He is survived by his two sons, Gregory (Deborah) Peterson of Indianola and Dale (Kathleen) Peterson of Clive; a daughter, Patricia (Roger Gigler) McDermott of Nashua; six grandchildren, Jeff (Angie) Peterson, Alex (Melissa) Peterson, Evan Peterson, Ann Peterson, David McDermott, and Scott McDermott; one great-grandson, Owen Peterson; two step-grandchildren, Casey (Amanda) Gigler and Lisa (Terry) Moeller; ten step great-grandchildren and two step great-great grandchildren; a brother, Dr. Glenn (Betty) Peterson of Lincoln, NE; and one sister, Betty Peterson of Shell Rock.
Wayne was preceded in death by his wife, Helen on May 1, 2009; a son, David Peterson; his parents; two brothers, Gordon and Lavere; and three sisters, June Wittig, Gloretta Peterson, and Virginia Thurner.
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My thoughts are with you Greg, Dale and Pat with families. A year passed since Helen left us all and now it was time for Wayne. Ill always remember Wayne as an easygoing, gentle, very social and caring man! Your parents were such a unusual lovely couple! Of all my memories I especially remember Wayne taking Pat and me to a boatride on the Mississippi as well as taking my husband Joakim to the golfcoarse. Lovely memories!! My sincere greetings to you all./ Lena
I am saddened to learn of Wayne’s passing. We had corresponded in recent months so I knew of his illness. Wayne and I were born two months apart, entered school in Shell Rock together, graduated from High School together and maintained occasional contact throughout our lives. I wish to extend sincere sympathy to Wayne’s family.
We have many great memories of Wayne and Helen before and after they were married plus the years of their family and our family growing up together. We cherish these memories and laughter that Wayne has given us!! We will miss him deeply!
My sympathy and the sympathy of my entire family to the Peterson family. Helen, Wayne, Pat, and Roger have always been great neighbors at Ventura/Clear Lake, Iowa. We will miss Wayne being on the dock taking in fish and the conversations that we had with him.
We are sorry to hear of Wayne’s passing. We have many years of fond memories with Wayne and his family.
To Wayne’s entire family, I am so grateful to have gotten to know such a wonderful man. It started when a group of us in Shell Rock put together the 150th Anniversary Book. I met Wayne for the first time at the Shell Rock Library and was so impressed with his memories of Shell Rock. I remembered that, and when it came time to interview someone for our Historical Society, I wanted to talk to Wayne. Little did I know he had put together a ‘book’ for all the visitors who would come to visit our Museum. So many have read and will continue to read his recollections and enjoy hearing his stories. He never forgot his hometown. I don’t think I have ever met a man with such pride and strength to carry on with his life the way he did. He has been the most admired man in my life. His last words to me at his home were: ‘I was glad to know you.’ I will carry those precious words with me forever. Such a kind man…God Bless all of you, Sherri Willey