Harald Jorgen Petersen

Harald Jorgen Petersen was born on December 3, 1925 in Tyler, MN the son of Andrew and Dagny (Paulsen) Petersen.  Harald graduated from Alden High School in 1944.  He enlisted in the Army Air Corp.  In 1946 he attended St. Olaf College.  On July 26, 1946 Harald was united in marriage to Marie Helland at Lime Creek Church in Emmons.  Harald graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1950 and taught high school sciences in Glenville, MN until 1963.  The family then moved to Estherville, Iowa where Harald was Vice-president at the Iowa Trust and Savings bank until 1973.  Harald and Marie lived in Okoboji, Iowa for 2 years then moved to Minnesota, living in Emmons, Alden and Albert Lea.  Harald started a trucking company in 1989 and enjoyed 18 years of over-the-road trucking throughout the United States.  Harald was recognized in 1998 as Outstanding Senior Citizen of Freeborn County.  In 2001 Harald and Marie received a Jefferson Award presented to them in Washington D.C. by the American Institute for Public Service.  In 1989 Harald traveled to Jamaica and served orphans and the needy by constructing a vocational school in Accompong and an orphanage in Montego Bay.  He led mission teams to Jamaica from 1990 to 2008.  His instruction to all when visiting Blossom Gardens Orphanage was to "hold the babies until your arms ache because this will be the only love they receive today".  He helped individuals in Jamaica by constructing homes and by providing academic scholarships.  His mission work continues today to influence the work and commitment of numerous individuals in their own mission projects and in JACOM Jamaica Accompong Connection of Minnesota, a Freeborn County organization that provides support and leadership in helping Jamaicans learn skills and gain education that will lead to economic independence.  Harald also served the communities he lived in through numerous projects.  He was chairman of Morin Lake Days, Alden, in 1988 and worked for many years to beautify the city with flowers.  He organized youth in church projects which included the construction of an outdoor chapel at Good Earth Village Camp.  Harald approached life with integrity and a fierce determination to make the most of every opportunity to make the world a better place by sharing his talents and gifts.  

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Marie; children, Barbara (Richard) Wurtzberger of Sleepy Eye, Karen (David) Whitehouse of Maple Grove, Annette Petersen of Albert Lea and David Petersen of Columbia Falls, Montana; grandchildren, Christoffer (Kim) Whitehouse, Mitchell (Tiffany) Swanson, Andrea Rhodes, Marissa (Gerald) Petersen-Coleman, AnnMarie (Martin) Staehnke, John (Christy) Wurtzberger, Andrew Petersen, Allyson Petersen, Sharon (Craig) Deutsch and Sarah Whitehouse; 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Alvin (Dorothy) Petersen; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Harald was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, JuliAnne Petesen; nieces Eileen Petersen and  Robin Lair; nephews, Frank Petersen, Jeff Paulsen and Tom Paulsen; brothers, Alfred Petersen and Roland Petersen; and sister-in-law, Ardys Collen.