James, better known as Jim or Pete to his closest friends, was born on May 11, 1939, to Virgil and Ruth Petersen in Fremont, Nebraska, where he was raised alongside his brother Robert.
James had a deep love of sports that guided his life’s course. After high school, James attended Hasting’s College in Hastings, Nebraska, where he was called “one of the most feared athletes in the Nebraska College Conference” by the Lincoln Journal Star in 1962. He was quarterback of the football team and also excelled in baseball, track, and golf. In 1991, James was inducted into the Hastings College Hall of Fame.
After graduating from Hastings College, James carried his love of sports into his future career and went on to complete a doctorate degree in Physical Therapy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; then opened his own Physical Therapy practice in Morton, Illinois.
While creating roots and raising his children in Morton, James became a part-owner and the administrator of a nursing home, and then went on to found Petersen Healthcare with his brother Robert, which provided loving care to thousands of elderly patients in nursing homes and retirement facilities across the country in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Florida.
On November 12, 1979, James married the love of his life, Carolyn, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two joined their families and had a full household of six children. While James and Carolyn spent the majority of their lives together in Wee Ma Tuk, Illinois, they were in constant search of sunnier weather and over the years had winter homes in Las Vegas, Nevada, Mesquite, Nevada, and New Symerna, Florida, where they made many friends and tee times. The couple also spent many wonderful summers together at their home on Horseshoe Lake in Richmond, Minnesota.
James and Carolyn eventually settled down full-time in Fairview, Illinois, where James spent his days fishing on the lake with family and friends., caring for his dogs, tending to his farm property, grilling the best steaks, hosting fish fries, and enjoying many cigars and glasses of red wine. James will be remembered for his endless energy, his bounding laugh, and his fervor for life. His friends and family will miss him dearly.
James is survived by his wife, Carolyn Petersen; his children, Todd Petersen, Tera Shay, Timothy Petersen, Eddie Franciskovich, and Gregory Franciskovich; his grandchildren, Kaylyn Cooke, Joseph Petersen, Alexis Petersen, Taleigh Woods, and Zobie Franciskovich; his great-grandchild Maylie Laws; and many friends.
James was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Ruth Petersen; his brother, Robert Petersen; and he is finally reunited with his beloved son, Troy Petersen.
James’ family will privately mourn the loss of their loved one. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Troy Petersen Memorial Fund at the University of Iowa, a fund that James supported throughout his life, in honor of his son. Cremation Rites will be accorded with Sedgwick Funeral Homes and Crematory in Canton, Illinois.
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