Carl John Peterson

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Carl John Peterson who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Carl was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Carl knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

Carl was born October 1, 1936 in La Moure, North Dakota. His parents were Albert and Valley Belle Peterson. Carl was also raised in La Moure, North Dakota. Even as a youngster, Carl learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Carl was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. He had 5 brothers, Curtis, Eugene, Jerome, Victor and Al and 2 sisters, Helen and Laura. Carl had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Carl, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Carl's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Carl enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Carl enjoyed hunting. Carl also worked on a farm and milked cows. In his spare time he liked go hunting and fishing and to drive tractors.

In school, Carl was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Carl was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Carl’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from La Moure High School in 1952.

Carl’s practical work ethic carried over into his college years. His logical mind permitted him to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. He would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. Carl’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped him stay on track but often put him ahead of schedule. When Carl saw the need or benefit, he would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. Carl attended college in Valley City, North Dakota.He also pursued graduate school, earning his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Chapman University.

Carl was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Carl would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Carl was blessed with two children, Todd and Karla. They were also blessed with six grandchildren, Tiana, Tyler, Ryan, Sarah, Andrea and Sean.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Carl was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Carl was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Carl upheld his standards. His primary occupation was a teacher. He was employed for 38 years with Beaumont Unified School District. Carl was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Carl was a U.S. Navy veteran. His sense of duty helped lead him into the military where his understanding of rank, his willingness to abide by rules and regulations and his desire to follow orders was admired by his fellow service men and women. He was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Carl to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list was baseball.

Being generous with his time and energy, Carl liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. He was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. His desire to uphold traditions and his ability to take charge of any type of project made him a tremendous asset. Throughout his later years, Carl was an active member of the Elks and Lions Club.

A civic-minded person, Carl was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. He was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Carl was a member of several community groups, including serving on the Beaumont City Council and also as Mayor. During these years, Carl applied his analytical intellect to problem solving and so was an asset on most committees.

Faith was important to Carl. He held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay he saw around him. For that reason he held deep spiritual beliefs that he was willing to share. He was a member Fellowship in the Pass Church.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Carl used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Carl had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included traveling to many places.

When Carl’s retirement finally arrived in June 1, 2003, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. His new life involved staying in Cherry Valley. In many ways, Carl loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Carl passed away on June 24, 2010, at his home in Cherry Valley, California. Carl fought a brave battle against cancer. He is survived by his son, Todd, his daughter, Karla, his grandchildren, Tiana, Tyler, Ryan, Sarah, Andrea and Sean and his ex-wife, Sharon. Services were held at Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at 11:00 AM, at Weaver Mortuary, 1177 Beaumont Ave, Beaumont, CA. Carl was laid to rest in Mt. View Cemetery, Beaumont, California.

All who knew him would agree that Carl was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Carl John Peterson did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.