Tribute

Our dear dad passed away peacefully July 25^th,  2024 at age 99.  Born May 2^nd, 1925 in Winchester, Idaho, John was one of 9 children raised near Whitebird, Idaho.

During WW2 he served in the US Army Air Force as a tail-gunner on a B26 bomber. His jobs included working at a Portland shipyard, a surveyor  and  carpenter,  building Hanford Nuclear Plant and going to Alaska as a surveyor for US National Geodetic Survey, mapping coastal mountains. He was building schools in Alaska where he met and married a teacher named Bernice. They immigrated to Canada (Vanderhoof BC) in 1956 and became Canadian citizens. Their 4 children were born and raised in BC.

John worked with two of his brothers building up and selling 3 sawmills around Prince George and a large farm at Dawson Creek. He was a successful businessman until BC Ministry of Forests  undermined all his efforts to build a viable sawmill at Fort Nelson. He had integrity and spent decades trying to resolve that issue without success. Despite that, he retained his mobility, wit and sense of humour. He stayed mentally sharp and was living at home in Abbotsford until going into hospice mid May.

John enjoyed family gatherings and all the Peterson family reunions. A celebration of life was held for him during the recent family reunion.

John was predeceased by his wife Bernice (in 2019 at nearly 98) and all his siblings. He is survived by  Roy (Bonnie), Sharon (Arne), Leonard (Chris), Carolynne, 6 grandchildren, and  5 great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Holmberg House for providing wonderful care in his final days. John and Bernice will be interred at Whitebird Cemetery near his parents and siblings.

He will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.