Hazel’s Obituary Hazel Ebba Willette Erikson Peterson, 96 of Paxton, passed away at 8:25 p.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at Heritage Health, Gibson City. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2019, at First Lutheran Church, 301 South College Street, Paxton with Rev. Debra Domeier officiating.
A private family burial will be held at Glen Cemetery, Paxton at a later date. Visitation will be 1 ½ hours prior to the funeral service at the church on Friday beginning at 12:30 p.m. Baier Family Funeral Services, Paxton is assisting the family with arrangements. Hazel was born June 15, 1922, in the Chicago suburb of Mount Greenwood.
She was the daughter of Wilhelm and Ebba (Sjodin) Erikson. Following the death of her mother she lived with her uncle and aunt, Otto and Margaret Seadin in Chicago. Hazel was baptized January 1930 at her home in Chicago and was confirmed in May 1936 at Tabor Lutheran Church in Chicago.
She had two sisters, Myrtle and Grace, both of whom preceded her in death. Hazel married John Henry Peterson of Oconto, WI July 26, 1945 at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA. He died on December 21, 1971.
Survivors include a son, Michael (Laura) Peterson, Rockford and a daughter, Judith (Robert) Kale, Oceanside, CA. Also surviving are grandsons Steven (Jackie) Peterson, DeKalb, Andrew (Stephanie) Kale, San Diego, CA, Brian (Christine) Kale and great grandchildren Nolan, Amelia Hazel and Jonah, Shakopee, MN, half-brother Sanford (Maggie) Erikson, Mound, MN, niece Lucy (Howard) Grayson, South Colby, WA, sister-in-law Grace Peterson, West Grove, PA and many other relatives. Following graduation from Hirsch High School in 1940, Hazel worked for the Illinois Bell Telephone Company and the United States Maritime Commission in downtown Chicago.
When World War II started, she enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. She was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California and was discharged at the end of the war with the rank of Sergeant. While at Camp Pendleton she met her husband John who was a career Marine.
John’s military obligations enabled their family to travel extensively around the U.S. In 1957 he was transferred to Japan for an 18-month tour of duty and the family moved to Paxton. In 1961 Hazel returned to work as a secretary at Chanute Air Force Base. She retired from Federal Civil Service in 1978.
She did volunteer work at Chanute and in 1989 received the Red Cross Volunteer of the Year award at Chanute. Throughout the years she was active in scouts and did volunteer work at various community organizations. In 2000 she went on a mission trip to Jamaica working in a children’s orphanage.
She was a member of the Paxton American Legion Post 150. Hazel was a member of First Lutheran Church in Paxton since 1957. She served on the church council and over the years spent countless hours volunteering at her church and the local Aid Association for Lutherans Branch.
On July 4, 2009 Hazel was honored to be the recipient of the Golden Deeds Award at Paxton’s July 4th celebration. Memorials may be given to Women in Military Service for America Memorial (WIMSA), Women’s Memorial Foundation, Dept. 560, Washington DC 20042-0560 or the Paxton American Legion Post 150.
Condolences may be offered at www. baierfuneralservices.com.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
