Merlin Stanwood Peterson

Memorial services for Merlin Peterson, age 77, of Albert Lea, will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday September 13, 2014 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home.   Rev. Kent Otterman will officiate.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  
Merlin died Tuesday, September 09, 2014 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Minneapolis.
Merlin Stanwood Peterson was born January 11, 1937 to Selmer and Myrtle (Landaas) Peterson.   He was baptized and confirmed as a Lutheran. He grew up in rural Albert Lea and graduated from Lake Mills High School. After high school he was drafted into the U.S. Army. While stationed in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; he was united in marriage to Mary Jane Verdoorn at Silver Lake Lutheran Church.  Merlin worked for Turnbull Tires for over 20 years. He then worked at Streaters until his retirement in 1998. Once retired, he worked as a custodian for Albert Lea Schools. Merlin was a member of the American Legion, and the Eagles. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, golfing, horseshoes, and tinkering. Most of all Merlin loved spending time with his family.
Survivors include his daughter, Rebecca (Mike) Swanson; daughter-in-law Tammie Peterson; grandchildren Brady and Derrick Peterson and Tyler and Jacob Swanson; sisters Harriet Green and Mary (Dean) Poole; brother Jim (Kathy) Peterson; in-laws Roger Prantner, Sandy Peterson, Syd Verdoorn, Daniel (Pat) Verdoorn, and David (Faye) Verdoorn; many nieces and nephews; and loyal friend Big Boy.

Merlin was preceded in death by his wife Mary Jane; his parents; son Stanwood Peterson; sister Aggie Prantner; brother Dale Peterson brothers-in-law Raymond Verdoorn and Dave Green; and nephew Gene Poole.