Passed away in his sleep on August 23, 2014 at the age of 93.  Gordon was born in Nebraska on October 8, 1920 to Martin and Sena Petersen.  He was the oldest of ten children.  When Gordon was seven years old the family moved to Montana where he lived until enlisting in the Army Air Corps in December 1941.  Gordon’s unit sailed on the Queen Mary to Australia in February, 1942. He attended radio school at Point Cook outside of Melbourne and then served in New Guinea for the remainder of World War II. When Gordon returned to the United States at the conclusion of the war, he met his wife, Nadine Rice, and they were married on November 4, 1945.  Gordon was honorably discharged from military service in October, 1945.

Gordon and Nadine moved to Turlock where his family had relocated during the war. Gordon went to work for the Postal Service and remained there in various positions until retiring 37 years later. Gordon and Nadine had one daughter, Camille.  They lived in Turlock for the majority of their 68 year marriage.

Gordon was a charter member of the Turlock Little League.  After 19 years as manager of the Rotary Little League team, he was appointed the District 10 Administrator and was honored with a District 10 perpetual trophy. Gordon also served 9 years on the Turlock Park and Recreation Board.  

Gordon was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Turlock where he served several years as the Finance Chairman and Treasurer.  He was a lifetime member of the VFW and a member of the American Legion and Turlock SIR organization.  Gordon was an avid sports fan and golfer.  He was a San Francisco 49er season ticket holder for 40 years and attended games well into his eighties. Gordon loved to tell jokes, laugh, and have fun with his family and friends. He will be remembered as a loving father and husband who was always there for his family and friends. 

Gordon is survived by his wife, Nadine, and his daughter and son-in-law, Camille and Dick Taylor, his brother, Martin Petersen, and sisters Lillian Shank, Dorothy Merritt, Evelyn Thaxton and Lucille Tacheira.  The family requests that donations made in memory of Gordon be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis TN, 38101-9908.  A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, September 3rd, at 3:00 in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 640 N. Minaret Ave., Turlock.