Neale Peterson

Neale R. “Pete” Peterson passed away on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at Delmar Gardens of Lenexa. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 12th at McGilley State Line Chapel from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, December 13th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 5250 Mission Road Roeland Park KS. A reception will follow at the church.

Pete was born February 11, 1921 in Norfolk, Nebraska, to Theodore and Anne (Pojor) Peterson. He grew up in Fremont Nebraska, attended and graduated from the University of Nebraska. He was married to Elizabeth (Betty) Anne Hruby for 67 years.

After graduating from University of Nebraska, Pete was the Civil Administrator of Offutt Air Force Base during WWII. Following the war, he went to work for Old American Insurance Company were he retired as Vice President of Human Recourses after forty years of service. In 1953 Pete began his political career as a city council member for the City of Fairway KS. Later he served as Mayor for more than thirty years. He was instrumental in getting the Fairway Pool built as well as the new City Hall. In honor of his many years of service to Fairway, the park was named for him. He was an active member of Mid-American Regional Council and instrumental in creating flood control programs for the area. As a member of St. Agnes Parish, he proudly ushered every Sunday Mass at 10:45. He was also an avid duck hunter and fisherman and spent many fun days fishing in Blackduck Minnesota and duck hunting at the Duck Club near Rich Hill Missouri.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his infant brother Gayle and his wife Betty Anne. He is survived by his children; David “Dave” Peterson of Overland Park KS, Amy Redlinger of Hollis NH (husband Joseph), Mark Peterson of Shawnee KS, Julee Dettenwanger of Carlisle PA (hus-band John) and multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by his Sis-ter-in-Law Marguerite (Peggy) Mandeville, of San Diego CA, and his Brother-in-Law Charles S. Hruby of Omaha NE and his extended family.

The family would like to send a special thank you to Delmar Gardens of Lenexa and Vitas Hos-pice Care for their years of love, care and support to Pete. In Lieu of flowers memorial contribu-tions may be made to Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, 13316 W. 98th Street, Lenexa, KS 66215.