Lynn Allan Petersen

Lynn “Mr. P” A. Petersen, age 79, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

A Celebration of Life will be at 7:00 P.M. Saturday, October 15th at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home, with visitation from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M.

Lynn was born April 4, 1943 in Dysart, Iowa, a son of Lloyd Charles and Dorothy A. (Junge) Petersen. He married Karen Kay Grimm on August 9, 1969 in Dysart, Iowa. She preceded him in death September 19, 2014. Lynn is survived by his daughters, Karla (John) Bellandi and Amy (Mike) Vigars; and grandchildren, Nicholas Bellandi, Allison Bellandi, Katelynn Vigars and Adam Vigars. He also leaves brothers, Neil (Annette) Petersen, Wayne Petersen, Tom Petersen and Mike (Donna) Petersen; brother-in-law, Dennis (Deb) Grimm; and several nieces and nephews. Along with his wife, Karen, Lynn was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters-in-law, Kathy Grimm and Mary Jo Petersen.

Lynn retired in 2000 as executive director of the USDA office in Ottawa. He was a founding board member of the Ottawa Food Pantry and had generously volunteered his time in support. Leisure time would find him enjoying breakfast with retired co-workers and friends, watching Nascar and his beloved Chicago Cubs, reading and playing “Words With Friends” online, demonstrating his “green thumb” in the garden or simply sitting in his lawn chair and “watching the world go by.” Above all, his family was most important. Lynn would never miss the various activities of his grandchildren. He was known as the family “peacekeeper” and will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Community Food Basket, P.O. Box 2386, Ottawa, IL 61350 or online at ottawafoodbasket.org. To share a memory or sign the online guestbook, please visit www.gladfelter-roetker.com or Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home on Facebook.