STOCKHOLM/WEST BRIDGEWATER, MA — Gustave T. (Gus) Peterson, 93, dearly loved husband, father, grandfather and great- grandfather, died surrounded by his family at home after a long battle with Parkinson’s on Friday, October 2nd. He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Delia Birdena (Anderson) Peterson of Stockholm, ME and Belmont, MA. Gus was born in 1922 in Vasteras, Sweden and immigrated to the United States with his parents, Nils and Edith (Anderson) Peterson in 1924.
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| Gustave T. Peterson |
He grew up in Cambridge, MA, graduating from Rindge Tech high school in 1939. Upon graduation, Gus was offered a scholarship to Harvard to study English, but decided to go to work for the Cambridge Electric Light Company in order to support his family. He worked for Cambridge Electric for 38 years and served in the Army Air Force during World War II for four years. Gus married his wife Birdie in 1946, and they raised four children in their home in Lexington, MA, where they lived for 50 years. Gus and Birdie eventually retired to their beloved cottage on Madawaska Lake in Maine.
Gus had a love for photography, swimming, camping, reading the newspaper and watching the Red Sox. He spent much time working to build the Boys Brigade Camp buildings, and his service to the Boy Scouts of Cambridge, who awarded him the Order of the Arrow for the work he did as treasurer. Until he lost his eyesight, Gus was an avid reader and enjoyed doing daily crossword puzzles in ink. In his later years, he could be found down the road from their cottage at Stan’s, talking, telling jokes, and drinking 10¢ coffee. Gus will be most fondly remembered for his quick wit and dry sense of humor.
Gus is survived by four children, Paulette Peterson of Ipswich, David and his late wife, Eleanor (Cecchini) Peterson of Billerica, Ellen and Ray Bartlett of West Bridgewater, and Daniel and Kathy (Forten) Peterson of Mt. Gilead, North Carolina. Gus also leaves behind ten grandchildren: David, Paul and Jamie Peterson, Joshua Jamison, Alexandra and Theodora Peterson, Lauri Shea, Nicole Shea, Michelle Stratton and Robert Bartlett, fifteen great-grandchildren, his sister, Lillian Cylik, and scads of nieces and nephews all over the country. He will be greatly missed by his church family in Maine at The Stockholm Baptist Church, and by his New Hope Christian Chapel church family, whom he and Birdie have grown to love dearly since they relocated to the south shore of MA in 2005.
His wake was held on Sunday, October 11 at New Hope Christian Chapel (6 Meadowhill Court in South Easton, MA) from 4:00-5:30 pm, followed by a celebration of his life at 5:30 pm. Collation to follow at 6:00 pm in the grand room at the church. Memorial donations made in his name can be sent to New Hope Christian Chapel, 6 Meadowhill Court, S. Easton, MA, 02375.
