Obituary of Charles E. Peterson

Charles Erland Peterson, 89, of Cambridge died on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. Charles was born to Charles T. and Hannah (Berglund) Peterson in Crosby, Minnesota on August 1, 1926. He grew up in Mora where he was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church of Mora and graduated from Mora High School in 1944. He served during World War II in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1946 in the South Pacific, Okinawa and Japan. His ship assisted in the release of American prisoners and visited Hiroshima, Japan in October 1945. He went on to graduate from Macalester College and the University of Wisconsin - School of Banking. Charles was married to Juanita Niemann of Ogilvie in 1952. During his career he was Vice-President of First National Bank in Anoka, President of First State Bank in Coon Rapids and owner of the State Bank of McGregor. He was director of Peoples National Bank in Mora for over 30 years. Following retirement from banking, he was a Financial Consultant for the Cambridge Medical Clinic. Charles had a great interest in traveling, flying, fishing and golf. He piloted small airplanes for over 50 years. He flew a plane to Alaska seven times and made many trips to Canada with planes on wheels, pontoons, and skis. He marveled at the beauty of the far North which was always an inspiration and reinforcement of the wonder of creation. He made trips throughout the United States, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, China and Spain. Charles E. Peterson was preceded in death by his parents, brother James, daughter Tami Westberg, and step sister Darlene Petersen. He is survived by his wife Juanita; son in law Alan Westberg; grandchildren Kaaren (Derek) Simon, and Jonathan Westberg; sister Elaine (Merton) Schwarz, step brother Dennis (Joanne) Olson, and other brothers and sisters in law, nieces and nephews.