Finished With Engines (FWE): June 11, 2012, in Seattle at age 72. He was born August 16, 1939, in Seattle Washington, the son of Rudolph and Dorothy (Patterson) Petersen. John graduated from Franklin High School in 1957. He served in the US Army in Heidelberg, Germany from 1963 to 1964. He married Alma Williamson in 1964 and had two children. They later divorced. John began his career at Washington State Ferries in 1969 and retired in 1997. In 1989 he married Judy Heath. John is survived by his wife Judy and his children Michael Petersen (Robin) and Melissa Lee (John), stepson Ryan Heath (Gretchen), grandchildren John Petersen-Carrillo, Marleigh Petersen, Jacque and Josh Lee, Gavin and Logan Heath, and his sister Judy Butler (Ed).
There will be a Celebration of Life from 2 pm to 5 pm Sunday July 29th at the SeaTac Community Center in SeaTac,WA. The family asks in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made in John's name to Highline Home Health & Hospice, 12844 Military Road S. Tukwila, WA 98168 or the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation, 400 Mercer St. Suite 504, Seattle, WA 98109.
A special thank you to Bonnie Takasugi, M.D., at Highline Cancer Center. Please see John's tribute page at www.washelli.com.
