Harlan Petersen

Harlan Lee Petersen was born on the home farm in Frederic, Wisconsin on January 2, 1936, the son of Henry and Cecelia Petersen. Where growing up he learned to value and love the skills and work ethic to run a farm which he carried through life. His elementary years were spent in a one room schoolhouse in rural Frederic, graduating from Frederic High School in 1955. He graduated from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska in 1959 and started his elementary teaching career teaching 2 years in Norfolk, Nebraska, then 23 years in Blue Earth, Minnesota. He then moved to Rochester, Minnesota where he worked for Allen Dairy Farms, McNeilus Trucking and Mahn Funeral Homes. He managed to fill his spare time with working on farms with family and friends and involving his children so they could learn those values.

He married Rosanne Shumway in 1959, and together they had three children; Daniel, Debora, and Andrew. He is survived by his wife, Rosie, sons and daughter Dan (Johnette), Deb, and Drew (Marie), sister Audrey Voth of Red Wing, grandchildren Tiffany, Tyler, Chris, Kaley, Reed, Kyle, Ellie, Levi, and Parker, great-grandchildren Myah and Evalynne, and many nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews.

We remember Harlan for his love for the Lord, his desire to serve Him by helping people, his passion for motorcycles (and later riding lawnmowers) and his ability to build whatever machine his creative mind could imagine. Riding many miles with the Christian Motorcyclist Association took him thousands of miles from Canada to Mexico and Washington, DC. Singing brought him joy. He sang often in church and church choirs from the time he was a boy until a few years ago. Along the way he also sang with Barbershop choruses and Young at Heart Singers. Harlan's zest for life will live on in our memories.

Services will be Sunday June 2 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Rochester at 2:00 PM. A light lunch will follow. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

If so desired, memorials may be directed to Redeemer Lutheran Church.