Duane (Pete) M. Peterson

Duane M. “Pete” Peterson, age 89 of Tracy, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at the Sanford Tracy Medical Center in Tracy. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Tuesday at the Almlie – Horvath Funeral Home in Tracy and will continue one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Burial will be in the Modum Cemetery, rural Garvin. Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com. The Almlie – Horvath Funeral Service of Tracy is caring for the family. Duane M. “Pete” Peterson was born August 26, 1925 in Tracy, Minnesota to Marvin S. Peterson and Ida (Stageberg) Peterson. He grew up in Garvin, Minnesota and graduated from Tracy High School in 1943. After high school, Duane attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota graduating in 1947. While at St. Olaf Duane was a member of the famed “St. Olaf Choir” (1943 – 1947) singing under the direction of F. Meleus Christiansen while touring the United States. Duane married Marjorie Manke on July 23, 1947 in Tracy, Minnesota. The love of his life and traveling partner for 67 years and 7 months. They traveled the World extensively. Duane was a business man owning his Insurance Agency, Real Estate Business and a Tax Practitioner Business in Garvin and Tracy, beginning in 1947 until selling completely in 2002. Duane still went down to the office and worked with Real Estate until December of 2014. Duane was a board member of Norwegian Mutual Insurance Company in Cottonwood, Minnesota for 54 years, being President for 34 years. Duane was very active in the church and community being a board member at Shetek Lutheran Ministries for 15 years (1956 – 1971) while being treasurer for 10 years and Sunday School Superintendent at Lake Sarah Lutheran for 21 years and the Garvin Business Mens Club for 46 years. Duane was also a church council member numerous times. Duane was a member of Tracy Lutheran Church, Tracy Country Club, Garvin Fire Department, Tracy Chamber of Commerce and other various civic clubs. Duane peacefully passed away on February 28, 2015 with his family at his side at the Sanford Tracy Medical Center in Tracy, Minnesota at the age of 89 years old. Duane is survived by his wife Marj of Tracy; Daughter Kristin (Jim) Kaiser of Richfield and grandchildren Chris (Lisbet) Kaiser, Marjie (Joffrey) Sarphati, Andy Kaiser and Amanda Kaiser; Son Mark (Kathy) Peterson of Lake Shetek and grandchildren Heidi (Justin) Deragisch and Eric Peterson; Son Ivar (Diane) Peterson of Coon Rapids; Several great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Duane was preceded in death by his parents, brother Irv Peterson, father-in-law and mother-in-law Bill and Bertha Manke, brothers-in-law Bill Otto and Bob Manke. Duane was a kind, gentle, loving man stating…”Goodbye is NOT in my vocabulary”; instead we say, “I’ll be seeing you later” - Pete