Perry A. Peterson of Rapid River died on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at Lakeview Assisted Living in Gladstone where he was currently residing. He was born in Rapid River on March 17, 1916. His parents were P. Albert Peterson and Ellen (Bergman) Peterson. In the simpler days of his youth, he remembered the old type logging camps which he visited and of the fun of running on the logs being driven down the Whitefish River when such logging drives occurred yearly and the logs lay in the lower river until well into June being sorted out to the mills still operating at Rapid River and Masonville. He likewise remembered the pleasure in taking a gentle horse and dray to cut and haul in firewood to his grandfather
Anonymous
PerryThank you for always sharing your mind, heart and soul.
Your spirit will always flow in the whitefish
Ryan M Bergquist
Angola, IN
Perry Peterson was a very kind, perceptive and dedicated individual. His commitment to the greater Rapid River community. He strived in every instance to support and encourage the growth and good of his hometown. His wide travels and myriad professional experiences only added to his dedication and expertise. I met him over coffee at Jack’s Restaurant many times and it was he who encouraged me to support the Omni Center and assist with its growth and utlization. His presence will be missed. His dedication to his community was extraordinary.
William J. Green
Wausau, WI
Perry Peterson was a person that saw a good light in anyone he met. He did many things for the community of Rapid River over the years that will be with us for many years to come. Perry and I have been friends for almost 15yrs and he has told me many life lessons that have made me a better person today. I was able to see Perry 12-26-09 we had a great emotional visit and he was so happy to see me. We talked about old times and about him not being with us anymore. He told me he had lived a good life and made the world a little better with his community involvement.
Kory Decremer
Rapid River, MI
No boundrys for Mr. Perry and that influenced my three children. The opportunity for each to ask him questions that would be answered with sincerity and truth to go and explore. Perry would have wise and thought provoking answers for each. Our family was gifted with Amanda and her love of stamp collecting to be shared by Perry always caring enough to have new and not found yet stamps for Amanda. Together we would hear wonderful stories of places in the world;. And the opportunity to join in has now come to Amanda. A graduate of N.M.U. Amanda is serving in the Peace Corps in Tanzania East Africa and We say
Asante (sana) Thank you very much for such a trail plazing, caring individual. A blessing for us to have known Perry Peterson. We send family condolences.
Andy, Corey, & Amanda Boyle – Aspell Mary
Rapid River, MI
My earliest recollection of Perry was when I worked at Jack’s Restaurant. He always encouraged us to further our educations and invited us to go swimming in the Whitefish at his place. My husband’s class ring is somewhere on the bottom of the Whitefish from a swim there! My next recollection was working with (mainly typing) for he and Hugh Harris Sr. on the renovation project to the old high school. They worked tirelessly to make the Omni Center/Riverside Manor a reality. Yes, making this a better place for everyone was what he strived for. Lastly, his visits to Rapid River Public Schools were always thought provoking and entertaining. He wanted to share ways to improve the education of Rapid River students and students everywhere. I, too, will always remember his hearty laugh!
Sandy Deneau
Rapid River, MI
Perry taught me about hard work and having a sense of humor. I’m now aware as an adult about his sense of humor but not as a teen whose teenage summer relationship was too intense. My mother May, (Hannah, as Perry called her; it was her middle name that my mother hated) Bergman, arranged for me to leave Battle Creek and my oh so serious boyfriend at age 16 for the “Lodge” for 2 weeks during the summer. Perry had my cousin Mary Munson(her mother was Ester, Perry’s cousin)and I to stay with him. Perry had chores for us to do each day. He gave us each a paint brush and told us to paint the tree stumps for two weeks. I graduated to painting the lines on the Tennis Courts (I don’t remember electricity up at the Lodge, yet we had tennis courts!). My oh so serious teenage boyfriend somehow found the Lodge and showed up to visit. Perry met him outside at his car apparently and I never even knew he showed up to visit me until I was home in Battle Creek. It was a 9 hour drive one way for that young man to visit. I look back and laugh!
Perry had our best interests at heart and seemed to speak to you individually as if you were one of the most capable individuals. I loved his great, wide smile. Mom always loved his sense of fun and practical jokes. I admired his educational accomplishments. They gave me the courage I needed to form my own educational goals knowing I came from family that was so accompished and smart.
Susan Mae Friedlund-Flees
Battle Creek, MI
Perry was someone who I always looked forward to spending time with. Each moment was an adventure, a challenge, and a wonderful mental exercise. Laced with the humor only he could provide his stories and wit captivated my heart and his laughter, larger than life itself, made all who heard it understand the delight with which he embraced life. He provided me with the security that comes from knowing who you are by sharing with me our rich heritage and he helped define for me my place in the world. I will always feel blessed to have had him in my life and will never forget all of the wonderful memories.
He always teased me about the summer when he brought my first puppy love, David Douglas, to The Farm. We ventured down the Whitefish in search of Indian artifacts, caught fish, blazed trails through the forest on horseback, played Smear, War, and double solitaire all the while listening to the stories Perry would tell. I learned a lot of lessons from Perry and I got my first kiss on top of the blueberry hill from David Douglas. He never let me forget it. Not that I would.
Lynda Bergquist Slaggert
Saginaw, MI
My earliest connections with Perry Peterson were the accountings of my school friend, Dr. Margaret Soderberg. Mr. Peterson hosted a dinner party at the Log Cabin and Margaret could bring a friend…and that friend was me. It was an evening that made an impression on me…we were allowed to order lobster, a new experience at a young age. He was a most interesting person to listen to as he had many travel experiences. When he returned to Rapid River to live the community embraced a very giving individual. He will be long remembered. Our sympathy, Pete and Cindy Brock
pcbrock05@charter.net
Rapid River, MI
Our area just won’t be the same without Perry’s smile and wisdom.
Al Ison
Bark River, MI
Ellen & Judy,
This is a loss of a great man. It was sad to see him suffer in the last years. I will check back here to see if arrangements have been made.
Christine Vandervoort
Williamston, MI
We always enjoyed conversations with Perry and will remember his kindness and generosity in extending his hospitality at The Lodge. We were impressed by his devotion to preserving that slice of Heaven and appreciate the fact that he made it available to so many. In addition, he was an interesting individual, with views on life near and far, and a desire to make the world a better place for future generations. He will be missed.
Kathleen Field
Mattawan, MI
Anonymous
Perry
Thank you for always sharing your mind, heart and soul.
Your spirit will always flow in the whitefish
Ryan M Bergquist
Angola, IN
Perry Peterson was a very kind, perceptive and dedicated individual. His commitment to the greater Rapid River community. He strived in every instance to support and encourage the growth and good of his hometown. His wide travels and myriad professional experiences only added to his dedication and expertise. I met him over coffee at Jack’s Restaurant many times and it was he who encouraged me to support the Omni Center and assist with its growth and utlization. His presence will be missed. His dedication to his community was extraordinary.
William J. Green
Wausau, WI
Perry Peterson was a person that saw a good light in anyone he met. He did many things for the community of Rapid River over the years that will be with us for many years to come. Perry and I have been friends for almost 15yrs and he has told me many life lessons that have made me a better person today. I was able to see Perry 12-26-09 we had a great emotional visit and he was so happy to see me. We talked about old times and about him not being with us anymore. He told me he had lived a good life and made the world a little better with his community involvement.
Kory Decremer
Rapid River, MI
No boundrys for Mr. Perry and that influenced my three children. The opportunity for each to ask him questions that would be answered with sincerity and truth to go and explore. Perry would have wise and thought provoking answers for each. Our family was gifted with Amanda and her love of stamp collecting to be shared by Perry always caring enough to have new and not found yet stamps for Amanda. Together we would hear wonderful stories of places in the world;. And the opportunity to join in has now come to Amanda. A graduate of N.M.U. Amanda is serving in the Peace Corps in Tanzania East Africa and We say
Asante (sana) Thank you very much for such a trail plazing, caring individual. A blessing for us to have known Perry Peterson.
We send family
Condolences.
Andy, Corey, & Amanda Boyle – Aspell Mary
Rapid River, MI
My earliest recollection of Perry was when I worked at Jack’s Restaurant. He always encouraged us to further our educations and invited us to go swimming in the Whitefish at his place. My husband’s class ring is somewhere on the bottom of the Whitefish from a swim there! My next recollection was working with (mainly typing) for he and Hugh Harris Sr. on the renovation project to the old high school. They worked tirelessly to make the Omni Center/Riverside Manor a reality. Yes, making this a better place for everyone was what he strived for. Lastly, his visits to Rapid River Public Schools were always thought provoking and entertaining. He wanted to share ways to improve the education of Rapid River students and students everywhere. I, too, will always remember his hearty laugh!
Sandy Deneau
Rapid River, MI
Perry taught me about hard work and having a sense of humor. I’m now aware as an adult about his sense of humor but not as a teen whose teenage summer relationship was too intense. My mother May, (Hannah, as Perry called her; it was her middle name that my mother hated) Bergman, arranged for me to leave Battle Creek and my oh so serious boyfriend at age 16 for the “Lodge” for 2 weeks during the summer. Perry had my cousin Mary Munson(her mother was Ester, Perry’s cousin)and I to stay with him. Perry had chores for us to do each day. He gave us each a paint brush and told us to paint the tree stumps for two weeks. I graduated to painting the lines on the Tennis Courts (I don’t remember electricity up at the Lodge, yet we had tennis courts!). My oh so serious teenage boyfriend somehow found the Lodge and showed up to visit. Perry met him outside at his car apparently and I never even knew he showed up to visit me until I was home in Battle Creek. It was a 9 hour drive one way for that young man to visit. I look back and laugh!
Perry had our best interests at heart and seemed to speak to you individually as if you were one of the most capable individuals. I loved his great, wide smile. Mom always loved his sense of fun and practical jokes. I admired his educational accomplishments. They gave me the courage I needed to form my own educational goals knowing I came from family that was so accompished and smart.
Susan Mae Friedlund-Flees
Battle Creek, MI
Perry was someone who I always looked forward to spending time with. Each moment was an adventure, a challenge, and a wonderful mental exercise. Laced with the humor only he could provide his stories and wit captivated my heart and his laughter, larger than life itself, made all who heard it understand the delight with which he embraced life. He provided me with the security that comes from knowing who you are by sharing with me our rich heritage and he helped define for me my place in the world. I will always feel blessed to have had him in my life and will never forget all of the wonderful memories.
He always teased me about the summer when he brought my first puppy love, David Douglas, to The Farm. We ventured down the Whitefish in search of Indian artifacts, caught fish, blazed trails through the forest on horseback, played Smear, War, and double solitaire all the while listening to the stories Perry would tell. I learned a lot of lessons from Perry and I got my first kiss on top of the blueberry hill from David Douglas. He never let me forget it. Not that I would.
Lynda Bergquist Slaggert
Saginaw, MI
My earliest connections with Perry Peterson were the accountings of my school friend, Dr. Margaret Soderberg. Mr. Peterson hosted a dinner party at the Log Cabin and Margaret could bring a friend…and that friend was me. It was an evening that made an impression on me…we were allowed to order lobster, a new experience at a young age. He was a most interesting person to listen to as he had many travel experiences.
When he returned to Rapid River to live the community embraced a very giving individual. He will be long remembered. Our sympathy, Pete and Cindy Brock
pcbrock05@charter.net
Rapid River, MI
our area just won’t be the same without Perry’s smile and wisdom.
Al Ison
Bark River, MI
Ellen & Judy,
This is a loss of a great man. It was sad to see him suffer in the last years. I will check back here to see if arrangements have been made.
Christine Vandervoort
Williamston, MI
We always enjoyed conversations with Perry and will remember his kindness and generosity in extending his hospitality at The Lodge. We were impressed by his devotion to preserving that slice of Heaven and appreciate the fact that he made it available to so many. In addition, he was an interesting individual, with views on life near and far, and a desire to make the world a better place for future generations. He will be missed.
Kathleen Field
Mattawan, MI