A photographic glimpse into the life of Philip E. Peterson

Philip Earl Peterson was born on Christmas Day in 1917 in the small Michigan town of Springport to William Earl and Neitta Ruth Peterson. He had one older brother, Tom, and a younger sister, Selma.

As a youth, Phil had more than his share of sadness. His father died when he was 6 and his grandfather when he was 12. These early losses may have fortified Phil for the many other tragedies in his life. Hes certainly seen his share, and he certainly is strong.

When Phil graduated in 1935, the country was entering what we now call the great Depression. Jobs were scarce and so he entered the Civilian Conservation Corps. His division was sent first to Isle Royale in Michigans Lake Superior where they moved starving moose to the mainland where food was plentifulthen he went to Ontonagon on the coast of Lake Superior where he planted trees and built fire breaks. He and the other enrollees wore uniforms from WWI Phil earned $30 a month $25 was sent home to mother and $5 he got to keep.

In 1939, Phil had a big city experience in Chicago while enrolled in electrical school. With this diploma in hand, he started work at Haddock Brothers in Battle Creek Michigan.

When the troop build up began prior to WWII, Phil enlisted and took his training at Fort Moltrie in North Carolina; after boot camp, Phil was deployed to a refueling and regrouping base on the Tahitian island of Bora Bora. Hummmat least it looks like he had some fun.

After the war, Phil was sent to Missouri to train signal corp recruits in the Principals of Electricity, and while there met Willa Dean Goetz. Deanie and Phil fell in love and together they moved back up to Battle Creek where his job at Haddock Brothers awaited.




The young couple set up house at 38 north 31st street in Lakeview and soon a couple babies came along. Gordon Rand was born in 1948, and Peggy Ann in 1951. Raising kids, home improvements projects, and fun vacations kept them busy for many happy years, and then tragedy struck Phil life again. In 1960, after years of treatment for melanoma Deanie passed away.

After a period of sadness, Phil met LaVon Lucille Brendam Winther and her two beautiful daughters, Victoria Elizabeth and Gloria Jean and fell in love again. The families merged and soon the kids started graduating from high school and beginning their own lives.

Phil and LaVon lived in Battle Creek. Phil jobbing auto supplies throughout Southeast Michigan and LaVon as a district manager for Avon. In the late 1970s they semi-retired and became snow birds with a home in Sebring Florida. Life was good, but in 1990, LaVon passed away after a short sickness that started as a simple cold, and Phil was widowed for the second time.

He mourned, and after a time renewed his involvement in Sebrings service organizations like the Lions and Elks. Eventually, he started keeping his eyes opened for another special woman. In 1992 a friend introduced him to Virginia Alene Horner Baker Rathbun and it was only a few months later that the two married. They lived together for 11 wonderful years until Jenny died of a heart condition in 2003. Phils heart was broken again.

After Jennys death, Phil kept active with the Lions Club, raising thousands of dollars for eye glasses and eye surgeries for those less fortunate. When he moved back up to Battle Creek to be closer to family in 2004, the Club gave him sad farewell.

Now, back in Battle Creek, Phil remains strong in character and in mind, and is there for the large extended family hes fostered throughout his long and poignant life on earth.

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[ancinzi]

any man who has lived to be 92, witnessed the death of his father and grandfather by age 12, been widowed three time, and served in WWII deserves to be honored. I'm hoping he finds love once again!

[dinomagic]

thanks for all the good you did in this life, youve lived a great life and seen much

[EquuSpirit]

What a beautiful and outstanding tribute you have created with this video project Anne! Really nicely put together! Well done, my friend! :-)

Bright blessings to you, and a big soul hug, Terri