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Obituary
Emmanuel Ole Peterson was born May 14, 1912, at the family farm 6 1/2 miles north of Britt, Iowa, and died January 20, 2004, at the age of 91 years, 8 months, and 20 days.
He was the youngest of ten children of two Danish immigrants, Karen Marie Mathilda Olsen of Tornemark, Sjaelland, Denmark and Edward Michael Peterson of Hyldtofte, Lolland, Denmark.
He was baptized at the Upper Flat Evangelical Free Church, north of Britt, Iowa, on August 4, 1912. As a young teen, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior during a week of evangelistic meetings at the Upper Flat Church. He was a member of the Upper Flat Evangelical Free Church for about 75 years and served on the board for over 50 years.
He attended Crystal Township No. 8 School until he graduated from the 8th grade. In 1931, he graduated from Britt High School where he was active in football and the manager of the basketball team. He attended Britt Junior College for one year and then worked as a hired man for several years.
On February 22, 1938, he married Hazel Ionia Boldt, daughter of Benjamin and Lydia Boldt, at her parents' home in Britt, Iowa. Their home was blessed with two daughters and four sons: Ruth Alice, David Charles, Paul Alan, Neal Emmanuel, Lindy Lou, and Hazel Ann.
Emmanuel farmed north of Britt for more than 43 years and near Forest City for about 2 years. He also worked at Marting Manufacturing for 35 years before retiring in 1992. He had a life long love affair with horses and was always happy to be around them and drive them.
Emmanuel was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and known as someone who loved to visit with people and who loved a good story. He had a wonderful memory and loved to talk about the history of the Upper Flat area and the church he loved so much.
Emmanuel is survived by six children: Ruth Zill of Kiel, Wisconsin, David Peterson of Britt, Paul and Marsha Peterson of Brit, Neal and Alice Peterson of Perryton, Texas, Lindy and LaMae Peterson of Woonsocket, South Dakota, and Hazel Peterson of Eagan, Minnesota; 19 grandchildren: Rebecka Thalheim Broussard, Robert and Richard Thalheim, and Geoffrey Zill; Lisa Peterson; Angela Peterson Ausborn, Toni Peterson Shafer, and Laurie Peterson; John, Rachael, Michael, Thomas, Timothy, and Belva Peterson; Jon, Benjamin, Mark and Kelly Peterson, and Jennifer Peterson Wagner; 14 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law Genevieve Peterson of Worthington, Minnesota, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Emmanuel was preceded in death by his wife Hazel in 1994, one grandson Neal Emmanuel Peterson, Jr., his parents, one daughter-in-law Barbara Peterson, one son-in-law Elmer Zill, five brothers: Bernhard, Louis, Victor, Walter, and George, four sisters: Anna, Gerda, Myrtle, and Nina.