Obituary of Emel G. Peterson

Emel G. Peterson, 103, formerly of Busti and Lakewood, died at 4:28 p.m. Thursday (October 23, 2014) in the Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center. He was born on June 19, 1911 in Cumberland, Wisconsin the son of Gustaf and Marie Olson Peterson. Emel was the owner and operator of Peterson’s Candies, with his wife Elsie from 1931 to 1976. He served with the US Army from 1942 to 1945 in Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland. Emel was awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery and also earned the American Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a member of the American Legion Ira Lou Springs Post #149, Lakewood Golden Agers, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the Busti Apple Festival. He was chairman of the board of the Hazeltine Public Library for thirteen years and during his tenure, a new addition to the library was completed. Emel was a member ofImmanuel Lutheran Church and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. He is survived by two daughters, Elaine (Larry) Ayers, Lexington, N.C. and Emily (Guy) Bergamo, Minoa, N.Y., a grandson, Benjamin Slocum, Raleigh, N.C., a granddaughter, Allison Bergamo, Rochester, N.Y., two great grandsons, Joshua and Elijah Slocum, Raleigh, N.C. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie Sample Peterson whom he married on February 24, 1946 in Immanuel Lutheran Church and who died on October 10, 2006 and by a brother, Paul Peterson and three sisters, Violet Peterson, Florence Kofod and Alberta Davis. The funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. Robert Kasting, pastor will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Hubert Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Memorials may be made to Hazeltine Public Library 891 Busti-Sugargrove Rd., Jamestown, N.Y. 14701 You may send condolences to the family by visiting www.hubertfuneralhome.com. Website by Billie Jean Hubert.