Gerald “Jerry or Pete” Olaf Peterson, 86, of Mt. Sunapee, NH, formerly of Plaistow, NH, died on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. Born in Auburn, MA, on October 28, 1931, Pete was the third of four children born to Sigurd Robert and Alice Veronica (McMenemy) Peterson.
Pete was predeceased by his parents as well as his older brother, Sigurd (also known as Pete) and brother in-law Roy Leach and sister in-law Barbara Peterson. He is survived by two sisters, Helenmaire Hall and her husband Curt of Sunapee and Claire Leach of Hampton, NH.
Pete graduated from St. Peters High School, Worcester. Following graduation, he attended New England College in Henniker, NH where he played soccer on the college team. He married Margaret “Marge” Mary Lee on June 21, 1952. After marriage, Marge and Pete lived in Anif, Austria, while Pete was in the US Army as Pay Master during the Korean Conflict, then back in Henniker, NH, while he finished college. They lived in Plaistow, NH, from 1956 to 1988 where they raised their family. He was employed by Western Electric, North Andover, MA, as a Supervisor and Manager for 30 years before retiring at 55. He still maintained contact with some of his Western Electric colleagues.
Pete was very involved in local sports. He continued to play soccer, basketball and softball well into his 40s. He was involved in coaching and refereeing all sorts of sports throughout his children’s childhoods including starting the Timberlane Junior High Soccer Team which he also coached for its first 2 years.
He was also very involved in local politics while in Plaistow including a few stints as Town Auditor, School Board Member/Chairman and Budget Committee to name just a few. He was the person who made the motion to build Timberlane Regional Junior Senior High School. He was active in the Carl Davis Legion Post in Plaistow where he made many life-long friends.
In addition to his sisters and brother in-law, Pete leaves his seven children and their spouses including Sandra (Mark) Legsdin, Sutton, NH; Darlene (Robert) Behrens, Sunapee, NH; Gerald (Ying Xia) Peterson Jr., Concord, NH; Amy (Richard) Neville, Hampton, NH; Thomas (Kim) Peterson, Danville, NH; Daniel (Tammy) Peterson, Goshen, NH and Heather (David) Cantagallo, Newbury, NH; thirteen grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Pete is also survived by a large extended family and many friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Pete’s calling hours on Saturday, November 4, for 10 to 11 AM at Stringers Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street, Claremont, NH. A service will be held at the funeral home immediately following. A graveside service at West Claremont Burial Ground, Claremont, NH will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Goshen, NH Fire Department or the TRHS Alumni Association Scholarship Fund Plaistow, NH.
★ 2016 Copyright E-Ticker News of Claremont ★ Website by Bee Balm Productions ★