1933-2023
Edgar Franklin Peterson “Pete,” 90, son of Carl and Marie (Campbell) Peterson, passed away peacefully on Dec. 27, 2023, at the Lakeside Village in Panora with his wife of 68 years by his side.
He was born Jan. 22, 1933, in Gilman where he attended school. As a child growing up, Ed was adventurous at times and once got stuck in a tree and his mom had to climb up to get him down. Living on a farm, they had an outhouse that Ed didn’t like his mom going out to in the dark, so he ran electricity to the outhouse. In high school, Ed excelled in baseball and basketball. After graduation, he had the opportunity to play minor league baseball but was drafted into the United States Army in March 1953.
Ed spent 18 months on the front lines of Korea as a forward observer for the artillery. He was released from active duty service on Jan. 1, 1955.
In 1952, Ed met the love of his life, Belva “Bi” Colbert, who was teaching kindergarten in Gilman. They were engaged in 1953 before he left for Korea. After returning home from the services in Korea, they were married on March 6, 1955, and lived in Guthrie Center where she was teaching and Ed was a mechanic at the Ford garage. To this union, two sons were born, Brad and Mike.
During this time, he was a 10-year member of the Guthrie Center Fire Department, which two of those years, he was fire chief. He also was on the county board of Veterans Affairs for 29 years.
Later in life, Ed and Belva bought a farm southwest of Guthrie Center, and Ed transitioned as a farmer.
Ed enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family and many friends. Ed will be greatly missed by so many.
Ed is survived by his wife, Belva “Bi”; sons, Brad Peterson and Mike (Terri) Peterson; two grandchildren, Brandon (Becky) Peterson and Bailey Peterson (Ryan Ecklund), all of Guthrie Center; five great-grandchildren, Piper, Kyla, Lucy, Otto and Jett; siblings, Roger (Dorothy) Peterson of Grinnell and Marilyn Postal of Fallbrook, California; along with many other nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bob; sister-in-law, Joanna Peterson; sister, Carol Sandberg; and brother-in-law, Bob Postal.
Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church, Guthrie Center. Visitation was Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at the Twigg Funeral Home, Guthrie Center. Burial was at 2 p.m., Thursday, at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, near Van Meter.
Memorials may be left to the Guthrie Center Fire Department.