Obit: Alfred P. Petersen, 99, Free Soil

Alfred P. Petersen, aged 99 of Free Soil, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2014 at his home.  Alfred was born on May 28, 1915 in Holton Township of Muskegon County to John and Antonia (Tomasek) Petersen, and married Eva Gajeski on September 30, 1944 at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Free Soil.  They have celebrated 69 blessed years together.  Alfred farmed in Victory Township for 69 years and remained very active in the community until recently.

He was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Victory Twp. until it closed, then joined St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Free Soil.  Alfred was preceded in death by his parents, his son Alfred Jr., his daughter-in-law Linda Petersen, his son-in-law Ronald Grabowski, his twin brother Albert, his sister Mary Schmidt, and his great-grandson Nathanial Woodring.  He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Eva, his children Theresa (Richard) Woodring of Fremont, Paul Petersen Sr. of Free Soil, Helen Grabowski of Manistee, Patrick (Ginni) Petersen of Ludington, and Gerard (Leann) Petersen of Freesoil, his grandchildren Christopher (Dawn) Woodring of Canton, Angela (Mark) Chmura of AZ, Pamela (Stephen) McGarva of MA, Paul Petersen Jr. of Ohio, Michelle (Darren) Sterley of Scottville, Thomas (Sarah) Grabowski of Ludington, and Jonathan G. Petersen of Freesoil, ten great-grandchildren Alex, Matthew, and Elizabeth Woodring, Emily, Stephen, and Lillian Chmura, Freyja and Ella McGarva, Traci Petersen, Mya and Dakota Sterley, his great, great-grandson Brayden McIntyre, many nieces and nephews, and his beloved kitties Blossom and Grey.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Thursday, June 19 at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Free Soil with Rev. Dennis O’Donnell as celebrant.  Burial will follow at St. John Cantius Cemetery.  Friends may meet with his family for a time of visitation on Thursday morning from 10:00 – 11:00 am at the church.  Those who wish to give memorial contributions are asked to consider St. John Cantius Church.  Please visit Alfred’s personal memory page at www.stephensfuneralhome.net to sign his guestbook, or to leave a memory of Alfred for his family.