Obituary of Jack Peterson
John “Jack” Norman Peterson passed away on January 3, 2019 at GracePointe Crossing in Cambridge, Minnesota.
Jack was born on May 31, 1926 in Boyceville, Wisconsin, the only child of Norman and Rosetta (Elkin) Peterson. Jack graduated from Baldwin High School in 1944 and joined the Navy, where most of his time was spent in the Pacific. After being discharged, he was employed in the family grocery and meat business. Jack later went to college in River Falls, Wisconsin and graduated in 1952. He began his coaching and teaching career in 1953 in Arkansaw, Wisconsin, then worked in Cosmos and Waconia, Minnesota. In 1965, he accepted a position as head coach of the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets. There he was a history teacher and basketball coach until he retired in 1984. His service included creating and facilitating the Cambridge-Isanti Summer Recreation Program and was a MBCA Section Representative. He was inducted into the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015; the Minnesota High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Bluejacket Hall of Fame in 2017. Jack was also a loyal member of Joy Lutheran Church. He married the love of his life, Frances, in June of 1961, after falling in love with her at first sight. They had two children, Jeff and Traci, and resided in Cambridge.
Jack’s passion was sports – basketball being number one. He was respected by the community during his years of teaching and coaching. He loved his coaches, players, students and fans like his own. He brought the Cambridge Boys Basketball team to state in 1978 and this was a time to remember for many.
Jack also loved his family trips to the Whitefish chain of lakes and spending winters in Florida. But most of all, he loved his family and was a loyal friend.
Jack is survived by his children Jeff (Rose) Peterson of Deltona, Florida and Traci (Dale) Grundberg of Isanti, Minnesota; grandchildren Catie (Matt) Hanson, Candice (Luke) Lange, Robert (Kayla) Andrews and Kim (Jon) Hymes; and 9 great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff of GracePointe Crossing and Allina Hospice, as well as all the years of medical care at the Cambridge Medical Center.
Memorial service 11 AM Wednesday January 9, 2019 at Joy Lutheran Church 1155 Joy Circle, Cambridge, MN
Friends may gather 1 hour prior to service at the church on Wednesday.
Interment private at East Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Amery, WI in the spring.
