In memory of Wayne E. Peterson

Wayne E Peterson was born 99 years and 10 months ago to James and Anna Peterson in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He grew up with his younger brother Jim in Minneapolis.  They lost their mother when Wayne was 16 years old.  He was active in his youth group at Bethel Lutheran Church.  He coincidentally walked down the aisle for Confirmation with his future wife, P. Maxine Swenson, whom he married in December 1944.

Wayne graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis in 1943 and then attended Augustana Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois where he received his Master of Divinity in 1946.  He was ordained into the Augustana Synod Ministerium on June 16, 1946 in Duluth, Minnesota.

As a Lutheran pastor he began his ministry at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa (1946-1950) where their daughter, Ann Louise, was born. He then served Bethany Lutheran Church in Ishpeming, Michigan (1950-1954) where Stephen Wayne was born.  He was pastor of The Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Duluth, Minnesota from 1954 to 1962 and he finished his ministry at Christ Lutheran Church in Waterford, Michigan (1962-1983), retiring in 1983 after 37 years of faithful service.

During his ministry he was President of the Iowa Conference and the Superior Conference Luther Leagues.  He was on the Board of Christian Service of both the Superior and the Minnesota Conferences.  He served on the Executive Board, the Church Vocation Committee and the Examining Committee of the Michigan Synod. He was Board Chairman of Psychological Studies of Michigan.

Along with regular pastoral duties, he sang in the choir, often soloing, and sang the liturgy.  He worked many years with his daughter Ann as organist and choir director at Christ Lutheran.  He served his people with faithfulness, kindness and love.

Wayne and Maxine enjoyed lots of travel and spent time at their lake place in northern Wisconsin where they retired after leaving Waterford.  Eventually they bought a condo in Waterford and split their time with a place in Florida.

In Florida they became charter members of Immanuel Lutheran Church Palm City where they started the senior group Saints Alive in 1991.  Wayne continued to sing in the choir, play bells and occasionally teach a bible study.  Maxine died in August 1996.  Wayne continued to live in Florida, did some traveling and spent summers in Michigan with family and friends.

Wayne found love again and married Jean Cashwell in July of 2001.  They traveled and continued to spend summers in Michigan.  Life got harder as Wayne continued to lose his eyesight to glaucoma and macular degeneration, but Jean took good care of him and he nearly made it to 100.

Wayne passed peacefully to be with his Savior on November 14, 2020 while listening to the hymn Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling.  He joins Maxine, his brother Jim and his parents.  He leaves behind his wife Jean; his daughter Ann Rogers and husband David; his son Stephen and wife Danica; his grandson Philip Peterson and great granddaughter Zuzu; his granddaughter Bekah Zamzam and husband Sami and great grandchildren Logan and Emma: and his honorary family Linda and Ron Rinkinen, Jonathan, Julianne, Joseph, Jacob, Jenna and Ole and Anne Anderson.

Wayne loved to be at the lake with family and friends boating, fishing, playing games or just sitting.  He liked to travel, to attend concerts and the theater, to eat out with friends, and to play his accordion.  He loved reading even when he could only listen to audio books.  He was well loved and will be missed!

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to:

Immanuel Lutheran Church Endowment Fund

2655 SW Immanuel Drive

Palm City, FL 34990

Or to:

Christ Lutheran Church

5987 Williams Lake Road

Waterford Twp, MI 48329