Gene Petersen Obituary (1925 - 2015)

Gene Petersen, 89, of Bloomington, passed away at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, January 31, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family.His funeral will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 6, 2015 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Rev. Jeffrey Windy and Monsignor Gregory Ketcham concelebrating. Military rites will be accorded by the Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard. Burial will be in St. Marys Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 5, 2015 atrnCarmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Church or Central Catholic High School.Gene was born March 8, 1925 in Chicago, the son of Harry and Eugenia Fagan Petersen. He married Cathryn Hemmele on May 1, 1945 in Bloomington. She survives.He is also survived by seven children, Eugene (Karen) Petersen of Bloomington, Jim (Helen) Petersen of Indianapolis, IN, Steve (Anne) Petersen of Bloomington, Cathy Hundman of Bloomington, John (Toni) Petersen of El Paso, Mike (Joan) Petersen of St. Petersburg, FL and Margie (Brian) Knutson of Bloomington; eighteen grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren; one sister, Mary Conroy of Moline and a brother Tom (Margaret) Petersen of South Bend, IN.He was preceded in death by his brother, Harry Petersen and his son-in-law, William Hundman.Gene was a graduate of Trinity High School (now Central Catholic.) During World War II, he was a pilot of a B-17, Flying Fortress, flew 35 combat missions over Europe, and was five times a recipient of the Air Medal. He retired from General Electric in 1988.Gene was a member of Holy Trinity Parish and had been active in many parish organizations including St. Raphael Society, Christian Family Movement, Pre-Cana and Boy Scouts. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.Genes life was dedicated to the mentoring and care of his family.