Obituary for Donald H. Petersen Donald H. Petersen February 25, 1925 – October 2, 2018 East Wenatchee, Washington Donald “Don” H. Petersen, 93, a person of gentle soul and longtime East Wenatchee resident, passed away on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at Central Washington Hospital. He was born on February 25, 1925, in Chicago, IL, to Alfred and Anne (Sorensen) Petersen. He was raised in the Elmhurst suburb of Chicago where he received his education.
He was drafted into the US Army at the beginning of World War II and served in the China Burma India (CBI) theater. He was a medic and served with the 124th Cavalry Regiment and he received his honorable discharge in 1946. They returned to Chicago and moved with his entire family to the Peshastin/Dryden area.
Over the next few years, he built the Valley Cottage Motel in Dryden, WA, which still exists to this day. Donald met Darlene Fisher on a blind date and they were later married in Seattle, Washington. They initially made their home on the motel grounds, but eventually moved to South Bend, Indiana, for job at a Studebaker Automobile Factory.
They returned to Wenatchee where Donald worked as a carpenter at the Rocky Reach Dam. They moved to East Wenatchee in 1957 where he built their home. Later, he briefly worked as a roofer until going to work at Alcoa.
He continued working at Alcoa for the next 33 years, before retiring as an assistant Foreman. Donald was a member of the Friend’s Church and enjoyed carpentry and any home building projects. He is survived by his Sons: Rick (Midori) Petersen, of Spokane, WA, and Ronald “Ron” (Carol) Petersen, of East Wenatchee, WA; brother, William Petersen, of Florida; grandchildren: Scott Petersen, of Bethesda, MD, Eric Petersen, of Spokane, WA, and Riley Petersen, of Wenatchee, WA; and great-grandchildren: Ava and Collin Petersen, of Bethesda, MD, and Kayden Petersen, of Spokane, WA.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Darlene; son, Robert Petersen and sister, Gloria Duran. A Funeral Service, with military honors, will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 6, 2018, at Heritage Memorial Chapel, located at 19 Rock Island Road, East Wenatchee, WA, 98802. Following the Service, a Reception will be held at Heritage and the family invites all to join for refreshments and a continued time of sharing of Donald’s life.
A Graveside Burial will be held at 9:00 a.m., on Monday, October 8, 2018, at the Wenatchee Cemetery, located at 1804 N. Western Ave. , Wenatchee, WA, 98801. You are invited to view Donald’s online tribute, share a memory or leave a condolence at www.
Heritagememorialchapel.com. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee. To send flowers to the family of Donald H. Petersen, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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