Duane Peterson, of Tracy, Minn., peacefully passed away on Feb. 28, 2015, with his family at his side at the Sanford Tracy Medical Center in Tracy at the age of 89 years old.

Duane M. “Pete” Peterson was born Aug. 26, 1925 in Tracy to Marvin S. Peterson and Ida Stageberg Peterson.

He grew up in Garvin, Minn. and graduated from Tracy High School in 1943. After high school, Duane attended St. Olaf College, graduating in 1947. While at St. Olaf Duane was a member of the famed St. Olaf Choir from 1943-1947, singing under the direction of F. Melius Christiansen while touring the United States. Duane married Marjorie Manke on July 23, 1947, in Tracy. She was the love of his life and traveling partner for 67 years and seven months. They traveled the world extensively. Duane was a business man, owning his insurance agency, real estate business, and a tax practitioner business in Garvin and Tracy beginning in 1947 until selling completely in 2002. Duane still went down to the office and worked with Real Estate until December 2014. Duane was a board member of Norwegian Mutual Insurance Company in Cottonwood, Minn. for 54 years, being President for 34 years.

Duane was very active in the church and community, being a board member at Shetek Lutheran Ministries for 15 years (1956-1971), while also being treasurer for 10 years and Sunday School Superintendent at Lake Sarah Lutheran for 21 years and the Garvin Business Mens Club for 46 years. Duane was also a church council member numerous times. Duane was a member of Tracy Lutheran Church, Tracy Country Club, Garvin Fire Department, Tracy Chamber of Commerce, and other various civic clubs.

Duane is survived by his wife, Marj; daughter, Kristin Peterson Kaiser ’72 and husband Jim and grandchildren Christopher Kaiser ’96 and wife Lisbet, Marjie Kaiser Sarphati ’97 and husband Joffrey, Andrew Kaiser ’99, and Amanda Kaiser ’04; son, Mark Peterson and wife Kathy and grandchildren Heidi Deragisch and husband Justin and Eric Peterson; son Ivar Peterson and wife Diane; and several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Duane was preceded in death by his parents; brother, M. Irving Peterson ’42; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Bertha Manke; and brothers-in-law, Bill Otto and Bob Manke.

Duane was a kind, gentle, loving man, stating “Goodbye is NOT in my vocabulary; instead we say, I’ll be seeing you later.”