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Walter E. Peterson
September 22, 1931-July 25, 2015
Walter E Peterson  bw

Walter (Pete) Peterson of Manteca passed away peacefully at age 83, on July 25, 2015 at Hospice of San Joaquin in Stockton, California.
   Walter was born at home in Mountain View, California on September 22, 1931 to Kenneth and Pearl Peterson.  He attended grammar schools in Modesto and Tracy and graduated from Tracy High in 1950.  During the Korean War, he served his country from 1952 to 1954 as a CPL in the US Army.  After returning from his tour of duty in Korea, he married the love of his life, LaMerle Kort on May 2, 1954 in Lodi.  They settled in Manteca and raised two daughters, Kimberly and Kelly.  Throughout his career he worked for Safeway, Big Boy Market, Tracy Purity Store and Manteca Turner Hardware.  In1963, he became a Correctional Officer for Duel Vocational Institute and retired in 1988 after 25 years.
   After retirement, Walter and LaMerle traveled the U.S.A. in their motor-home.  Walter enjoyed his flower garden, golfing, camping, fishing, woodworking, pinochle, reading and watching westerns, and his favorite teams, “49ers” and the “Giants.”  He was a devoted member of United Lutheran Church in Manteca and sang in the choir for years.
He volunteered for the Manteca Historical Museum and Tuesday Crew, and the American Legion Post 249 in placing flags throughout Manteca on special holidays.
   Walter was preceded in death by his father Kenneth Peterson and mother Pearl (Peterson) Dias, step-father Al Dias Sr., brother, Robert Peterson, step-brother Al Dias Jr. and step-sister Wanda Soria.
   He is survived by his wife of 61 years, LaMerle Peterson, daughters; Kimberly Jordan (Addison), and Kelly Crowder (James), grandchildren, Stephanie Flores (Alfredo), Michelle Roen (Mike), Matthew Crowder (Katie), Kate Pavelchik (Matthew); known as “Opa” to his great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Dominic, and Joshua Flores, Kolton and Wyatt Roen, Madison Crowder and Reagan Pavelchik, sister-in-laws Marge Peterson, Sheryl Bettencourt (Darryl), Colleen Hohlen and brother-in-law Eugene Kort (Betty), many nieces, nephews and cousins.
   Services will be held at United Lutheran Church, 649 Northgate Drive, in Manteca on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Manteca Historical Museum, P.O. Box 907, Manteca, CA 95336, United Lutheran Church, 649 Northgate Drive, Manteca and Hospice of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Ave., Stockton, CA 95204.  Special thanks to nurse Rose of Hospice staff and the Hospice House of San Joaquin.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Thursday, July 30, 2015