Everett Peterson

Everett “Pete” Peterson was an inspiring man who accomplished many great things in his life. As a member of the Naval Reserve, he served his country in both World War II and Korea. Meanwhile, as a civilian he enjoyed a successful career as a biochemist at the prominent Eli Lily & Company. As a Christian, Everett was a deacon and a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Bradenton. Finally, as a father and husband, Everett provided for the family he loved with his whole heart. The year 1921 was a historic year for the United States and the world. After years of tumultuous battles overseas, the U.S. Congress in a joint Resolution declared World War I to be officially ended on July 2. As thousands of battle-weary soldiers returned joyously to their homes, Talmadge and Esther (Throckmorton) Peterson of Lafayette, Indiana also found reason to celebrate. It was in that same year the couple welcomed their son Everett into their lives on July 22nd.

Growing up as an only child, Everett enjoyed being the complete focus of his parent’s attention and love. While his mother stayed home to care for him, Everett’s father supported the family as a high school principal. Because of his father’s passion for learning, Everett was taught to value education early on. His maternal grandfather taught him to love science and medicine. As a young man he used to take great pleasure in visiting his grandfather on the farm; a spot he considered to be his favorite place on earth. His grandpa was an old-fashioned doctor who used to make house calls by horse and buggy. Everett admired his grandfather, and soon set his sights on pursuing a career in medicine. Knowing his dreams would take hard work to accomplish, Everett was a dedicated student. From the time he started school at Morton Elementary, he put a high priority on studying. By the time he entered high school at West Lafayette, however, he had learned to balance his schoolwork with his passion for music. Everett began playing the cornet early on in life, and when he entered high school he joined the jazz band, which he enjoyed thoroughly. As a student at Purdue, Pete had the opportunity to meet Frank Sinatra before he was a household name.

After graduating High School, Everett continued his education at Purdue University. In order to pay for his schooling, he took a job at the Purdue Union. Because he was a patriotic young man, Everett also joined the Purdue R.O.T.C. As a student, Everett studied biology with the hopes of attending medical school. However, war broke out, and Everett realized his responsibility to the R.O.T.C. and bravely served his country in World War II. While he was defending the US overseas, his first daughter Diane was born in 1943. After he returned home, a second daughter Judy was born in 1946. His final daughter Susan was born in 1951. Once again, however, Everett missed her birth because he was overseas in the Korean War. Though military service frequently took him away from his family, he was proud to serve his nation. By the time he retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1972, he had served thirty years as a Naval Commander. Aside from his career in the Naval Reserve, Everett’s primary job was as a biochemist in the production department and as a consultant for Eli Lily & Co. at the plants in Lafayette (which he helped to start) and Indianapolis, a job he succeeded at for 43 years.

Because of his dedication to his career, Everett was very busy while the girls were growing up; however, he always made sure that he had lots of time to spend with them. Holidays were very important to Everett, because it meant that the whole family could spend quality time together. As the girls grew and moved away, Everett began to look forward to Christmas with great anticipation. He could not wait to have his whole family together again. Though Everett left for work early and came home late, he always made time for relaxing. He enjoyed playing bridge and euchre, especially with his sister-in-law and brother-in-law who lived next door. One of the reasons Everett loved being home was because he built the house himself. A meticulous person, he created the home to fit his specifications and only subcontracted the basement masonry. He was truly a gifted and talented man.

In the early 90s, Everett found love in a woman named Katherine. Following a traditional courtship, the two were married on July 21, 1993 in Bradenton Florida. Though it was a small celebration, it was filled with happiness, and the couple spent eleven years together as man and wife. Together, the couple enjoyed Everett’s final years of life. He loved spending time with his new wife. Having an intense sweet tooth he loved relaxing with his wife in the evening and enjoying a bowl of ice cream along with hot chocolate and whipped cream. He also loved Katherine’s German potato salad. During their time in Florida cherished the time he spent in the water or on the beach with his wife, and also enjoyed the local flowers and simply being outdoors. With Katherine at his side, Everett was also able to revisit his love for music. Dances were held at once a month at the German-American club in Bradenton and Everett seldom missed the chance to enjoy the music and fellowship with the group of very caring people.

After 83 years of life, Everett passed away on Sunday August 15, 2004 in Indianapolis. In 2003 he received a certificate for fifty years of service in the Lions Club from the chapter in Bradenton, FL. Commander Peterson was a member of Military Officers’ Association of Bradenton, FL. In addition, he was a member of the Manatee County German-American Club. Mr. Peterson is survived by his wife, Katherine; daughters, Diane Noble of Berthoud, CO, Judy Lowell of Ledyard, CT, and Susan Deverall of Ridgeville, IN; eleven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren. Friends and family will gather on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel. Funeral services to celebrate his life will begin at 12 p.m. with the Rev. Paul Scheele officiating. Interment will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens in Lafayette, IN. You are invited to visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may read Pete’s Life Story, share a personal memory, arrange for flowers, or make a memorial contribution to the Diabetes Association.

Everett will be remembered as a kind and caring gentlemen who always thought of others and never of himself. He was a loving father who always kept his children close to his heart even when distance separated them. As a Christian man, his spirituality seemed to deepen as he aged, it seemed the older he got the more he prayed. He will be greatly missed.