John William "Bill" Petersen

John William "Bill" Petersen Jr was born October 30, 1965, and died October 9th. Bill was a musician/composer and member of The Invincible Czars. He was also home automation professional with Dale Johnson Systems of Austin.

Bill is survived by his partner James Wylie Canup of Austin, parents Carol and Rev. Lee Weber of Greenville, Pennsylvania, and JoAnn and Bill Petersen of Greeley, Colorado; siblings Michael Petersen and spouse Darcy of Erie, Colorado, Karin Grassl-Petersen and spouse Becca of Fort Worth, Sarah Waldrip and spouse Daniel of Austin, Beth Weber of West Hartford, Connecticut, and Amy McKean and spouse Tom of Arvada, Colorado, and by many beloved nieces and nephews. Bill is also survived by James's parents Suzanne Peoples of Austin and Randi and Mayor Sam Canup of Uncertain, Texas; siblings Teresa Wyatt Vanderenden and spouse Hans of Dallas, Dr. John Spargo and spouse Erica of State College, Pennsylvania, and James Spargo and XXXX Sonya of Dallas, and by current and former members of The Invincible Czars, including Josh Robins and Leila Henley, Adam Kahan and spouse Michelle, Phil Davidson, and Dave Irish and spouse Jessica, all of Austin, and Tommy Holton and spouse Gina Lopez-Holton of Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany.

Bill enjoyed the variety of life's offerings and loved sharing them with others. Bill's passions were composing and playing music, cooking and grilling, gardening, travel and creative endeavors like wearing funky socks. When it comes to electronic gadgetry, food and beverages, Bill was a man of discerning tastes (a.k.a., snob).

Bill was born in Long Beach, California, on October 30, 1965. At 12, his family moved to the Mojave Desert. Bill and his sister Karin spent summers in Round Rock, Texas, where Austin found a place in Bill's heart. Bill was a fishmonger in Morro Bay, California. In 1995, Bill earned a degree in music from the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, after which he moved to Austin and worked for High Fidelity and Dale Johnson Systems.

In July 2004 Bill joined The Invincible Czars as keyboard wizard and composer. The Czars' arrangement and performances of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" have become a holiday tradition. The Czars' composed scores and performed them for classic silent films such as Martyrs of the Alamo (1915).

If February 2009, Bill met James Canup, who works for the American Red Cross, and they became partners. For almost six years they shared adventures and a fabulous life together, along with their pets Momo, Lamar Rundberg and John Henry Faulk Ivins.

Bill survived a heart attack in 2009, and for the past few years received heart and health care from St. David's and Seton, along with HAAM, the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. The morning of his last day, Bill received a certificate of graduation from the Seton Medical Center Austin Cardiac Rehab Program, and gave gifts of colorful socks to his health team. As Bill ultimately succumbed to heart failure, Austin paramedics performed heroic acts to save him. Bill's family is grateful to everyone who provided care to Bill, and for the love and support of friends the past few days.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, October 14, at Noon, at Mercury Hall, 615 Cardinal Lane, Austin. Memorial gifts may be given to HAAM, the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (www.myhaam.org), or the American Red Cross of Central Texas (www.redcross.org/Austin). Arrangements made by Weed-Corley-Fish.