Surnames: Peterson, Venzke, Pettelko, Sorensen

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wisconsin) Tue, Jan 18, 2005

Peterson, Henry G. (16 Sept. 1922 - 12 Jan. 2005)

OWEN -Henry G. Peterson, age 82, of Owen, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005, at Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Stanley.

A graveside service will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Withee, at a later time.

Prock Funeral Home/The Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, is handling the arrangements.

He was born Sept. 16, 1922, the son of John August and Cecelia Peterson. He lived his youth years in the rural Withee area and attended Withee schools, from which he graduated. Some years later, he went to Montana where he worked on wheat ranches and eventually became a union carpenter. In that career, he worked on many big construction projects in several western states. Often throughout the years he would return to Withee when layoffs in the construction trades would occur. This afforded him time to maintain many friendships in the Owen-Withee area. One of those friendships led to his marriage to Mary Venzke in the middle 1970s. They had 20-plus years together but they did divorce. From the 1970s, Henry maintained his home in Owen. He enjoyed many outdoor activities, which included fishing, camping, hiking and frequent travel to the western U.S. He also made two trips to Sweden to visit relatives. He enjoyed working in his shop doing woodworking and crafting. Another favorite pastime was attending polkafests all over the Midwest and beyond.

Henry will be missed by members of his family that survive him, which include one brother, Richard and his wife, Roma, Peterson of Circle Pines, Minn., and their four children, Dale, Kathy, Phillip, Bruce and their families. He is also survived by his nephew, Robert, and wife, Sandra, Peterson and their children all from the Owen area. Henry will also be missed by special friend, Esther Pettelko, of Winona, Minn. Henry was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, John Peterson; and one sister, Frances Sorensen.