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Edward John Peters

June 24, 2020
Portage, MI

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Edward John Peters, Lt. Colonel USAF (ret.) died 24 June 2020 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, age 93. Born on 23 December, 1926 and a native of Jersey City, NJ, his early years were spent in New York City with his mom, Catherine Kelly Peters (later Hersom), and he enjoyed the ferry ride each morning as she worked in Jersey City and left him with his grandparents John J. and Elizabeth Hanlon Kelly. He attended Catholic School in Jersey City until at 16 he joined the New York State guard during World War II and was assigned to guard the Statue of Liberty with a shotgun and no ammunition. At 17 he enlisted in the US Infantry. He served in the South Pacific and was on Okinawa when the war ended in 1945. He returned to the US in 1946 and traveled around the country, living for a time in Santa Monica, CA. On his return to Jersey City, his bus stopped in Salt Lake City, UT where he met Colleen Moore and decided to stay in Salt Lake. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and enrolled at the University of Utah on the GI Bill. Two years later Ed and Colleen were married when he was called up for service in the Seabees in the Korean war. His orders were rescinded as he was leaving for the train station, so he could start officer training in the ROTC at the University of Utah. In 1953 he graduated from college and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Utah State National Guard. He obtained a position at the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce and became a father. He continued his military career in the Air National Guard and forty years later was honored as he retired from active and reserve service. He served in the US Army, Navy, and Air Force. His work as an industrial director, legislative lobbyist, and educator took him to positions in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sacramento, California. He retired from the Utah State Board of Regents. He was active in Rotary in Utah and Michigan and leaves behind a legacy with Portage Rotaryof a "tomato plant buckets" project which reached thousands. He was also a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 1972, while living in California, he became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was active serving in church callings in both leadership and teaching. He served as a temple ordinance worker for 35 years in Oakland, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; Columbus, Ohio; and Chicago, IL temples. He is missed by Colleen Moore Peters, his wife of 69 years; his son Kevin (Karen) Peters; his daughter Meghan (David) Decker; five granddaughters Rachael (Neil) Bailey, Mary Beth (Julie) Decker, Ruth (Jordan) Plater, Elise (Paxton) Gray, and Rosalind (Chris) Burns, as well as 15 grandchildren. Many people will mourn but all will remember him for different reasons. To his widow Colleen, memories of many hours of conversation no matter where they lived or traveled; to his children, a dad who took them hunting, boating, or camping and taught them to love the outdoors; and to grandchildren who got the benefit of the many delightful stories he told them, some true, some created, and they were never sure which. He never met a stranger; he was a friend to everyone. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, no public memorial service will be held at this time. A small virtual family gathering will take place. He will be interred in the Salt Lake Cemetery.