Darwin John Peter

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Peter, Darwin John was born November 27, 1920, to John Peter and Clara Iverson Peter on their farm in Weimer Township, Jackson county, near Heron Lake, MN. He grew up there with two brothers, Lloyd and Wilbur, and one sister, Dorothy, and graduated from Heron Lake High School in 1936. He was a farm laborer for several years until he inlisted in the Army Air Corp at Fort Snelling in 1940. In 1943, while deployed in Souix Falls, S.D., he married Mary Ann McGran on November 1st at Dakota City, Nebraska. They were married for 67 years. When Dad received his honorable discharge in 1945 as a Staff Sargent, they setteled in south Minneapolis and raised their family while he worked at the Post Office. After the Postal Strike in 1971, he took the early retirement enticement settlement and retired in 1972. Pete enjoyed spending time with his family; time at his cabin on Crystal Lake in Lakeville and later at Fox Lake near Faribault; and wintering in Alamo, Texas. He enjoyed fishing and hunting birds and small game and he raised Brittany Spaniels. Pete was a "Jack of all Trades" as he could do anything that needed doing. He was a 69 year member of the American Legion and a VA hospital volunteer for many years in Mpls. He also drove the Veterans Van from Faribault to the VA. He belonged to and volunteered at the Knights of Columbus in Faribault. He was a community volunteer watering flowers in downtown Faribault and escorting funeral processions. He was also a hospice volunteer in Texas and Faribault. Pete was preceded in death by his parents and siblings and by his wife. He is survived by his two daughters: Judith Sommer- ness of Faribault and Grand Marais, MN and Joanne (Robert) Van Hee of Redwood Falls, MN; seven grandchildren: Jeff (Michelle) Van Hee of Madelia, MN; Amy (Chad) Bierl of Sanborn, MN; Eric (Misty) Sommer-ness of Prior Lake, MN; Molly (Cory) Aukes of Park Rapids, MN; Dan Van Hee of Redwood Falls, MN; Emily (Jesse) Berg of Redwood Falls, MN and Ann (Chad) Wiliemmson of Redwood Fails, MN; twenty one great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. He died peacefully at home March 13, 2015, with his daughters by his side. Mass of Christian Burial Thursday, March 19 at 2 PM with visitation 12:00-2 PM at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Dr, Faribault, MN. Prive interment Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Arrangements with First Memorial Funeral Chapel (612) 825-4567

Published on March 17, 2015