William (Bill) Petersen
Age 94
Bill passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on November 8, 2017. He was preceded in death by his sister, Layne Echols. He is survived by Patricia, his beloved wife of 66 years; children Marta, Jeff (Sandra), John (Kris), Layne (Dave) and Jim (Jane); grandchildren John, Kevin, Madeleine, Matthew, Anna, Nicole, Anthony, Alexa and Will; sisters Helen Osborne, Laurel Flaugher, Dorothy Wallace, brother Jim and many nieces and nephews. Bill was born in 1923 to Harry and Lillian Petersen in Athelstane, WI and grew up in nearby Goodman. After graduating from Goodman High, he attended the University of Wisconsin until World War II, where he served as a B-17 pilot in the 8th Air Force. He flew 35 missions with the 303rd Bomb Group out of England. After the war, he returned to the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1949 with a degree in Chemical Engineering after which he started to work for 3M in St. Paul, MN. When recalled into the Air Force for the Korean War, he married his fiancée, Patricia Gramling and together served two years in the Air Force Strategic Air Command stationed in Montgomery, AL; Denver, CO; and Spokane, WA. Upon discharge in 1953, they returned to St. Paul and 3M, where Bill worked in Product Development, helping to develop Scotchgard, and Marketing. At his retirement in 1986, he was Marketing Director of the Commercial Chemicals Division. Bill had a wide range of interests: fishing, hunting, golf, skiing, flower gardening, reading, music and others. His favorites were walleye fishing, golf and skiing, especially when joined by his wife, children and friends. He was an active member of the Silver Lake Methodist Church, serving for many years as chairman of the Board of Trustees. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, November 26 at 3 PM at the Silver Lake United Methodist Church (5399 Geneva Avenue N, Oakdale, MN). The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Silver Lake United Methodist.
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