Richard A. Peterson

Gowrie Richard Allen Peterson was born on October 19, 1943, to Kenneth and Marjorie Peterson. At the age of 75, Rich passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2019, at the Israel Family Hospice Home, Ames, following a battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, at 11:00 AM July 24, 2019, at United Methodist Church, Gowrie, with Pastor Susan Rohden officiating. Burial will be in Gowrie Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM Wednesday until service time at United Methodist Church, Gowrie. Palmer Funeral Home in Gowrie is serving the family. Rich was born hearing impaired but it never became a handicap to him. He attended and graduated from Prairie Valley Schools and also attended Fort Dodge Junior College. After completing his education, he attended a school for the deaf for a short time but never used sign language. He communicated by reading lips or messages on scraps of paper. He returned to Iowa and began an apprenticeship with Dick Nordstrom construction. This became Rich's life-long work. Rich later formed his own construction company and worked well into his retirement years. He built or remodeled many homes in the Gowrie area and also constructed farm buildings. He was a talented carpenter and his work reflected his attention to detail. Rich loved sports and played basketball, baseball and football in high school and junior college but his true love was golf. He was self-taught and played in league at Gowrie Country Club, later enjoying the men's traveling golf group. He never turned down a chance to bet a dime or quarter on a hole. He entered many tournaments and had 2 Hole in One scores. Rich enjoyed supporting the nieces and nephews in their sporting events. This continued with great nieces and nephews playing soccer, softball, football, track or basketball. He was their fan in the stands. Rich liked to travel and would just strike out on a trip, finding his way by his own intuition. Later he did conquer the cell phone and iPad which he depended on for communication with family and friends. He fought a long battle with colon cancer and rarely complained about its effect on his life. When asked how he felt, he would answer, "Its Ok." Rich was a kind compassionate person who lived a simple but productive life. Rich was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Kathryn Alice Sandberg. Left to mourn his passing are brothers Jim (Judy) Peterson, Apple Valley, Minnesota, Jerry (Darlene) Peterson, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, sister, Erma (Gene) Schaeffer, Story City, Iowa and brother in law, Jim (Karen) Sandberg. He is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Memorials may be directed to the Gowrie United Methodist Church and Gowrie Golf Course Blessed be the memory of Rich Peterson SERVICES United Methodist Church- Gowrie Wednesday July 24, 2019 11:00 AM OFFICIATING Pastor Susan Rohden VISITATION United Methodist Church- Gowrie Wednesday July 24, 2019 10:00 AM INTERMENT Gowrie Township Cemetery Gowrie, Iowa