Stanley Peterson

Stanley E. Peterson, age 100, of Alta, Iowa died Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Memorial services will take place Monday, January 16, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta. Burial will be at a later date in the Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the CHURCH. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta is in charge of the arrangements. Stanley Elvin Peterson passed away peacefully January 11, 2023 at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake, Iowa after a brief illness. His final year of life marked many milestones beginning with a hundredth birthday party in July. Numerous friends and family were in attendance on his big day. Followed by military medals proudly presented to him in September by Senator Joni Ernst at the Storm Lake VA office, promoting him in rank to Corporal honoring his four years of service during WWII. Stanley was born on July 3, 1922 to parents, Lawrence and Ellen Peterson in Sioux City, Iowa. As a child he moved to Alta, Iowa when his father bought the jewelry store. That is where he made his home and a lifetime of memories. Stan graduated from Alta High School in 1940, joining the US Air Force in September of that year. He built military planes for Boeing stationed in Wichita, KS, Alaska, Canada and New Mexico. He shared many stories, one of being given the opportunity to fly a B17 Bomber he helped to build. Stan was a lifetime member of the VFW. On Christmas Day 1971, Stanley and Joyce Bengston Johnson were united in marriage at St. Mark’s Church in Storm Lake. They enjoyed thirty-nine years of marriage filled with many travels, and entertaining often with their special Scandinavian foods for a host of friends and family. Stan was a postal employee for 40 years, 35 years in the Alta office, then retiring in 1987 as the postmaster in Quimby, Iowa. His hobbies included bowling, golf, rooting on the Twins and Vikings, reading, and crossword puzzles. His mind was sharp as a tack until the end. Stan’s dry humor and quick wit made him the one to keep comradery fun and definitely entertaining. Preceded in death are his wife, parents, siblings; June (Merlin) Schuldt, Ronald (Faye) Peterson, step-daughter; Betty Johnson Buffington, and her son, Jeffrey Buffington, niece; Patty Green. Those to cherish his life well-lived are step-son; Edward Johnson, his family; Sarah (Jason) Janorski, Tanner and Cooper, Rachel Johnson, Todd Johnson all of St. Paul, Minnesota, grandchildren; Joshua Buffington and Ethan of Raleigh, N. C.,William and Jillian Buffington of Faribault, MN. Relatives from Alta nephew; Todd (Tammy) Peterson, his sons; Neal (Megan) Peterson and Alex Peterson of Waukee, Ia., niece; Tracy (Doug) Simons, her family; Brianne (Lance) Madison and Jayden Goings of Cherokee, Blake(Amanda) Braxton and Eastyn Lytle, Abby Simons of Minneapolis, MN, niece; Kristie (Jeff) Tollefson, nephews; Tracy (Donna) Bengston, his family; Lesa, Bryan, Chris and John Schuldt of Macon, MO., along with numerous other relatives and friends dear to him. Special thanks to all the many wonderful caregivers that meant so much to Stan after he could no longer live on his own at Wel-Life in Alta, Good Samaritan Home in Newell, Methodist Manor in Storm Lake and St. Croix Hospice. “Thank you, Thank-you, Thank-you” as Stanley liked to say. Stan will be missed by all, forgotten by none.

Stanley Peterson

July 3, 1922 - January 11, 2023