1932-1997

Petersen's faith inspired many among us --

-a tribute-

Rev. Michael F. Kiernan

Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish
Anderson, California
[website]

Record Searchlight August 14, 1998

Today we mark the anniversary of the departure from this life of a great servant of the Lord, Edward Petersen. Just recently I had the opportunity to listen to the tapes of the memorial service for Ed and to visit with his dear wife, Nadiene. I was away last year when Ed passed away and was so sorry that I missed the services for this great man of faith, compassion, and gentleness.

I feel it appropriate now to remember with gratitude his contribution to us all. It is so important to have people of faith and generosity who can inspire and guide us. Ed Petersen was one such person, as he gave us example, encouragement and wisdom in service to God and others. I greatly enjoyed his practical dependence on the Lord, who was with him all the time , even through the very last moments.

Ed played such a great role in the community in so many different ways. He was an inspiration and blessing to me in my own attempts at ministry. I would marvel at how he could always be positive, open, faithful, and accepting of people. He was always saying "Yes" to God and leading us by gentle example to love and serve God and others.

Now he is in heaven where he will enjoy the presence of the God he loved so much and served so faithfully. May we all be united with him again when our time comes and experience again his love and goodness.

Some Ecumenical Encouragement for all of us

If you wish to return to Main Cottonwood Page

Biographical Sketch

Ed Petersen

North State Educator and Pastor

By Jim Schultz

RECORD SEARCHLIGHT
August 16, 1997
Page A-1, etc

Ed Petersen, "the Billy Graham of Northern California," left his mark on Shasta County through his sermons, writings and public service.

COTTONWOOD -- Ed Petersen, who died [Aug 14, 1997] touched the hearts and lives of countless Shasta County residents.
Whether it was through his historical or religious writings, his work on various school boards, or through his work for the Lord, Petersen earned the respect, admiration and love of many.
"Ed was the epitome of a Christian," Lynn Peebles, an elder at the Anderson -Cottonwood Neighborhood Church, said Friday. "He touched more people's lives in Shasta county than most. He was truly concerned about the welfare of people and their needs."
"We know him as the Billy Graham of Northern California,"said Linda Rogers, a church facilitator. "He presented the Gospel to whomever he met."
Brought as an infant by his parents, Petersen was a Shasta County resident for 63 years.
Petersen was a founding elder and the pastor at the 500-member church, officiating hundreds of funerals and caring for people in their time of need.
He had also been a Shasta College trustee for the past three years.
Petersen served for 20 years as a member of the Cottonwood Elementary School District Board of Trustees and served for eight years as a member of the Anderson Union High School Board of Trustees.
Born May 28, 1932, in Berkeley, Petersen and his family moved to Shasta County when he was only 2 years old and his parents, William and Hannah , owned and operated the Cottonwood Feed Store.
A 1950 graduate Anderson High School, Petersen was a member of the first Shasta College class from 1950 to 1952 and played intercollegiate tennis.
He received a bachelor of science degree in history from Chico State University in 1954 and taught history at Anderson High School until he entered the U.S. Army in 1956.
After his two-year Army stint, Petersen who also received a master's degree in history from the University of Michigan, returned to Anderson High School.
He taught there until 1965 when he became a Shasta College faculty member. He was a Shasta College counselor and division director for 20 years, retiring in 1992.
Petersen often contributed religious columns to the Record Searchlight and was the author of five books about Shasta County's history, including "In the Shadow of The Mountain."
Local history link: Peter Lassen, intrepid Dane. This pioneer and settler from Denmark proved to be as tough as the untamed land confronting him. Peter Lassen - California naturalist

The rescue of Denmark's 8,000 Jews serves as an example of an entire nation mobilized to rescue humanity from the abyss of German terror. A story of truly noble grandeur is how the king of Danmark, Christian X showed his courage by cointinuing his daily horseback rides during the occupation. When Hitler�s order came down for all Jews to wear the yellow Star of David, King Christian threatened to abdicate and to wear the star as a badge of honor, in identity with the Jewish people. That symbolic gesture inspired the entire nation of Denmark, demonstrating passive yet formidable opposition to all anti-Semitic legislation. Almost all of the Jews of Denmark survived the war, while those in almost every other nation occupied by the Nazis had their ranks decimated.

A September 1943 decision by the Nazi occupiers of Denmark to round up all Danish Jews for shipment to the death camps was thwarted. Courageously acting on a tip from a German shipping official, Danes from all walks of life mobilized whatever would float and ferried 5,900 Jews, 1,300 part-Jews, and 700 Christians married to Jews to safety in Sweden. Of the 500 or so Jews left in Denmark on October 1, 1943, all were deported by the Germans to Theresienstadt. Eighty-five percent survived the war. Historians have pondered why the citizens of Denmark resisted the war against the Jews, unlike most of their European neighbors. One reason is that Denmark did not have a history of anti-Semitism. Another was that nearby was neutral Sweden, willing to accept the Jews that could be saved."

a true account
worthy of praise