Peter Andersen Obituary

REV. PETER HOWARD ANDERSEN Pastor Peter Howard Andersen, of 100 E. Main Street, Marquette, Michigan, died unexpectedly, but peacefully on Sunday, October 20, 2013. Peter was born to Howard and Dorothy Andersen on January 17, 1945, in Wheaton, Illinois. Pastor Andersen was baptized at the College Church of Christ in Wheaton. He was raised and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wheaton and graduated from Wheaton High School in 1963. Pastor Andersen graduated with a B.A. from Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1967 and with an M. Div. from The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 1971. Pastor Andersen was ordained in Rock Island, Illinois on June 6, 1971. Pastor Andersen married the former Marilyn Reuschel, whom he met at Carthage, on July 21, 1968, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Golden, Illinois. The Andersens have one son, Philip, who graduated from NMU in 2006 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and continues to live and work in Marquette. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn of 45 years, and their son, Philip. He has many cousins from the Wheaton area: Fran Todd, Jon Walters, Pauline Driscoll, Cindy VanDeviere and Beverly Balzhiser Gallagher. He has three sisters-in-law: Betty Kleen (Vernon), Elaine Foss (Larry) and Lois Mansell (Jack) and 4 nephews: Andrew, Aaron, and Michael Foss, and Alexander Mansell. Pastor Andersen spent 40 years in the ministry as a servant of the Lord. He served as Associate Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles, IL (1971-76); Pastor of First Lutheran Church, Murphysboro, IL (1976-84); Senior Pastor of Lutheran Memorial, Quincy, IL (1984-94); and, Pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Escanaba, MI (1994-2009). Pastor Andersen retired on June 28, 2009 after 15 years at Christ the King. Over the years, Pastor Anderson has served on the Transition Team and first Synod Council (Central/Southern Illinois Synod) and on the Board of Directors at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL (eight years). "Pastor Pete " has also served a term on the Synod Council of the Northern Great Lakes Synod and served as chairman on the Board of Directors at Fortune Lake. He was a member of the synod Candidacy Committee; and frequently served as pulpit supply. Pete was an active member at Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette, where he served part-time as the Interim Associate Pastor for one year. Pastor Andersen 's favorite avocations included gardening, fishing, and bird watching. He sang with the Marquette Choral Society and was a member of the Laughing Whitefish Audubon Society. Special thanks to the Marquette General Hospital staff who treated Pastor Pete with great dignity and respect. The family will receive relatives and friends at the Swanson-Lundquist Funeral Home on Thursday, October 24, 2013, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church on Friday, October 25, 2013, at 5:00pm with Rev. David Van Kley and Rev. Amanda Kossow officiating. Burial will be made in the Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Messiah Lutheran Church, 305 W. Magnetic Street, Marquette, MI 49855 or Fortune Lake Camp, 138 Fortune Lake Camp Road, Crystal Falls, MI 49920. Condolences may be expressed online at swansonlundquistfuneralhome.com