Stewart W. Peterson, age 86 of Waseca died on Monday, October 19, 2009 at his residence in Waseca.

Stewart (Stu) William Peterson was born on a farm near Blooming Prairie, MN on October 7, 1923, to Charley J. and Mary Caroline (Dutton) Peterson.

Stu attended District 45 grade school, country school and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1941. After graduation he worked on the family farm while older brothers were fighting WWII. In February 1943, he joined the Army and trained for two years at Fort Campbell Kentucky as a light tank driver for Company D, 9th Tank Battalion, 20th Armored Division before shipping overseas. In Europe his unit went from Normandy to Salzburg February 18 to May 6, 1945. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and his unit was cited for liberating Dachau Concentration Camp. His unit was scheduled to go to Japan in August 1945 when the A-Bomb was dropped and the war ended. He was discharged from Fort Sheridan Michigan in February 1946, having earned the European Theater and Good Conduct medals. After his discharge, Mr. Peterson farmed for two years before taking advantage of the G.I. Bill to attend college. He attended Winona State Teachers College where he played football four years as an offensive guard and graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts. After graduation, he taught school for one year in Russell, MN, before returning to farming for four years. He then taught for two years in Claremont, MN, before moving to Waseca, MN, where he taught from 1958 until his retirement in 1984.

Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Eileen Hansen on April 11, 1953, in Blooming Prairie. He joined Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca in 1958.

Mr. Peterson was a 60-year member the VFW Post 878 in Blooming Prairie and Post 1642 in Waseca and a 50 year member of the American Legion. He served as Post 1642 Commander in 1970-71 and 1st District Commander in 1987-88. He served as the 1st District VFW Youth Activities Director for baseball and VFW Bantam Hockey and was State VFW Youth Activities Director in 1974-75. As an active member of the American Legion, he was involved with the Legion Baseball program. Mr. Peterson was a member of the Industrial Arts Association, Past President of Waseca Area Retired Educators and served as President of the 20th Armored Division Association in 2001. He headed the Waseca Memorial Day program for many years and was active in Voice of Democracy. He coached 8th grade football and taught Drivers Education during the summers. For many years he bowled in city league, enjoyed fishing and spending time at his cabin on Big Turtle Lake in Marcell, MN. Mr. Peterson was an avid reader, enjoyed the daily crossword puzzle and a true sports enthusiast.

Mr. Peterson is survived by his wife Eileen; sons: Paul (Denise) Peterson, Grand Prairie, TX, Mike Peterson, Waseca, MN; daughters: Sharon Peterson, Rochester, MN, Connie (Neil) Krohse, Sioux Falls, SD, and Rita (Joe) Miller, Waseca, MN; brothers Merle (Betty) Peterson and Howard (Mary) Peterson; sister Shirley Kubat; sister-in-law Lucy Peterson; six grandchildren: Derek (Kellen) Peterson, SSG Darren Peterson, Sean and Matthew Krohse, Ben and Ali Miller; one great-grandson, Jace Peterson; and many nephews and nieces.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in law, Charles and Ramah Peterson, brother, Gerald Peterson, step-sister Evelyn Joyce Riggi, sister-in-law Delores Peterson, and brother-in-law Leo Kubat.

Visitation will be held at Kinder-Dennis Home for Funerals in Waseca on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 from 4-8 PM and continue on Thursday, one hour before services at the church.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca with Rev. Roger Haug officiating. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Honor Flight, Waseca VFW Post 1642, or donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be sent to:

dennisfuneralhomes.com.