GEORGETOWN, Texas — Gary (Pete) Vernon Pedersen, 75 of Georgetown, Texas, formerly a resident of Grand Island, died peacefully with his family and hospice at the home of his son in Houston, Texas, on April 20, 2017.
He was born on March 22, 1942, in Newark, N.J., to Wilfred Gerhardt Pedersen and Mattie Ethel (Hanke) Pedersen. He married Mary Inez (Prichard) on Dec. 19, 1963, at the Community Church in Gunnison, Colo.
Pete graduated from Rutherford High School in Rutherford, N.J., in 1960. He received his associate’s degree from McCook Junior College in McCook in 1963, his B.A. in Secondary Education from Western State College in Gunnison, Colo., in 1965, and his master’s degree from Central State University in Edmond, Okla., in 1971.
Throughout his teaching career he taught history and government classes at the high school level and coached football, track and wrestling at high schools in Palmdale, Calif., Del City and Guymon, Okla., Trona, Calif., and Arapahoe, Neb., In 1974, he went to work for the Rancher’s Corporation in McCook and moved his family to Grand Island in 1981 when he became the district manager. In 1985, he purchased the Floor to Ceiling Store and remained the owner until he retired in 1998.
While living in Grand Island he was active in promoting and spearheading numerous charities events in the community including the original steak feed for the Grand Island Schools athletic program. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and St. Pauls Lutheran Church.
Pete was an avid outdoors man and a lover of hunting, fast-pitch softball, golf, being on the water and in the mountains. In retirement, his passions were being on the golf course and watching his grandchildren in their activities.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two sons, Gary Nelson (Tracy) of Houston, Texas and Jon Robert (Kim) of Murrieta, Calif.; six grandchildren, Caleb, Lindsey, Jacob and Julia of Houston, Jack and Emily of Murrieta; a sister, Carol Rutkowski of Manahawkin, N.J.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
At a later date, the family will go to Gunnison, Colo., for a Celebration of Life and distribution of his ashes
GEORGETOWN, Texas — Gary (Pete) Vernon Pedersen, 75 of Georgetown, Texas, formerly a resident of Grand Island, died peacefully with his family and hospice at the home of his son in Houston, Texas, on April 20, 2017.
He was born on March 22, 1942, in Newark, N.J., to Wilfred Gerhardt Pedersen and Mattie Ethel (Hanke) Pedersen. He married Mary Inez (Prichard) on Dec. 19, 1963, at the Community Church in Gunnison, Colo.
Pete graduated from Rutherford High School in Rutherford, N.J., in 1960. He received his associate’s degree from McCook Junior College in McCook in 1963, his B.A. in Secondary Education from Western State College in Gunnison, Colo., in 1965, and his master’s degree from Central State University in Edmond, Okla., in 1971.
Throughout his teaching career he taught history and government classes at the high school level and coached football, track and wrestling at high schools in Palmdale, Calif., Del City and Guymon, Okla., Trona, Calif., and Arapahoe, Neb., In 1974, he went to work for the Rancher’s Corporation in McCook and moved his family to Grand Island in 1981 when he became the district manager. In 1985, he purchased the Floor to Ceiling Store and remained the owner until he retired in 1998.
While living in Grand Island he was active in promoting and spearheading numerous charities events in the community including the original steak feed for the Grand Island Schools athletic program. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and St. Pauls Lutheran Church.
Pete was an avid outdoors man and a lover of hunting, fast-pitch softball, golf, being on the water and in the mountains. In retirement, his passions were being on the golf course and watching his grandchildren in their activities.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two sons, Gary Nelson (Tracy) of Houston, Texas and Jon Robert (Kim) of Murrieta, Calif.; six grandchildren, Caleb, Lindsey, Jacob and Julia of Houston, Jack and Emily of Murrieta; a sister, Carol Rutkowski of Manahawkin, N.J.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
At a later date, the family will go to Gunnison, Colo., for a Celebration of Life and distribution of his ashes
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