Former BHS Teacher Roland 'Pete' Peterson Passed Away Yesterday

Sending our deepest condolances with prayers to the Peterson family...



Hi Cathy.................

I wanted to let you know that my Dad passed away yesterday afternoon. He went peacefully to be with his Lord and to join my sweet Mom, his precious Kiva. He had been completely bedridden for several months and recently had trouble communicating with us although I know he loved seeing us when we would visit him every other day. I feel comfort knowing he was ready, so ready to leave this world and journey to that Other, Better Place.

I would so appreciate it if you could let our Burbank alumni contacts know of his passing----those special "kids" that my Dad loved so much over the years that he taught and coached at Burbank High.

We will be planning a memorial service and celebration of Dad's life to be held sometime in the fall and I will let you know the details when we get it organized in the event anyone would like to come.

Thank you so much, my dear friend....................

Love,
Linda


Back Row: Ray Turner (Tennis), Maurice Wiley (JV Football), Pete Peterson (B Basketball), Les Bruckner (Varsity Football), Roy Lockwood (Varsity Basketball). Front Row: Ray Trainer (Rifle Team), Bob Brewer (B Football), Don McMurry (Track & Cross Country), Richard "Dick" Minasian (Baseball & Athletic Director).



AUGUST 2, 2011 UPDATE

Received the following this morning from Alan Landros...

ROLAND "PETE" PETERSON

Home In Heaven - July 31, 2011

Mr. Roland "Pete" Peterson, much loved BHS teacher for decades, passed away on Sunday afternoon, July 31. He was 89. His 90th birthday would have been later this year. Mr. Peterson had been living in Thousand Oaks for the past two to three years, near his older daughter, Linda Peterson Everett. His health had continued to decline during that time.

Roland Peterson was born the end of 1921 to Emanuel and Elizabeth Peterson. Both of his parents were originally from Sweden. He was the fifth of six children, four older brothers, Harold, Arnold, Reinold, and Paul, and a younger sister, Ruth. All of them pre-decease Roland. His loving wife, Kiva, passed away on February 17, 2005, after nearly 60 years of marriage.

Roland and Kiva and their family moved into the Peterson Family home at Sixth St. and Walnut Ave. in Burbank in 1961. Roland's father, a building contractor, had built that home, which Roland had also grown up in. He lived there for about 47 years as an adult until moving to Thousand Oaks. Roland's "Pa", Emanuel Peterson, was the founder of Emanuel Evangelical Free Church in Burbank in 1941, located at Harvard Rd. and Fifth St. The family would walk to church each Sunday from their home at Sixth and Walnut. Many of the Peterson Family were still involved in that church until recent years.

Like three of his older brothers and his younger sister, Roland was a graduate of Burbank High School. He graduated in 1939. Then after college he returned to BHS as a teacher and coach, where he remained for over thirty years until his retirement. In the 1940's and 1950's besides teaching he was also a BHS football coach. Throughout all of his years at BHS he was a history teacher, loved and admired by countless of his students over the decades. His sense of humor always came through in his classes, too. Every year of his thirty plus years at BHS he was always one of the most loved, if not the most in some years, of the entire faculty. His students loved to be in his class.

Roland Peterson is survived by his children, Linda (BHS '67), Louanne (BHS '70), and Dan, four grandsons, a granddaughter, a great-grandson, son-in-law, Bob Everett, two sisters-in-law, Mary Peterson of Visalia and Virginia Peterson of San Marcos, and a number of nieces and nephews and their families.

The family is planning to have a Memorial Service sometime this Fall.

Alan Landros, BHS '70

AUGUST 3, 2011 UPDATE

Senior photo BHS Class '39



From Linda Mustion's website: http://bhsinmemoriam.blogspot.com/2011/08/roland-pete-peterson-bhs-1939.html


AUGUST 6, 2011 UPDATE

Cards and notes can be sent here:

Linda Everett
963 Ranch House Rd.
Westlake Village, CA 91361

Email: leverett963@yahoo.com

AUGUST 16, 2011 UPDATE

Received word today from Linda Peterson that Pete's Memorial Service will be on October 15, 2011.

Please read more here: http://bhsclass67.blogspot.com/2011/08/memorial-service-for-pete-peterson-oct.html

OCTOBER 27, 2011 UPDATE

From the Oct 13, 2011 Burbank Leader 

Roland "Pete" Peterson
1921-2011

Mr. Roland “Pete” Peterson, much loved Burbank High School teacher for decades, passed away on Sunday afternoon, July 31. He was 89 years old.

Pete was born in 1921 to Swedish immigrants. He was the fifth of Emmanuel and Elizabeth Peterson’s five boys and one girl. Pete was the last of these to pass on. Pete’s beloved wife, Kiva, passed away in 2005, after nearly 60 years of marriage.

Pete and his siblings largely grew up in Burbank, at the family home on the corner of Sixth Street and Walnut Ave. His father had built the family home as well as founding Emmanuel Church in Burbank.

Pete graduated from Burbank High School in 1939, went to college, then came back to BHS to coach tennis, football, basketball and teach history for the next 30 years. Pete’s great sense of humor and love of teaching came through and so over the decades he was much-beloved by thousands of students and colleagues.

In addition to teaching, Pete spent many summers as Camp Director for Viking Kids Club in Burbank, and the mountain Christian Camps at Tahquitz Pines and Forest Home. He loved to travel and took his family all over the United States and Europe. Pete loved sports and his passion was playing (and usually winning) paddleball.

Pete, Kiva and their family moved into the Peterson family home at Sixth Street and Walnut Ave in 1961. He lived there for about 47 years as an adult until moving to Thousand Oaks, near his daughter, Linda.

Pete is survived by his children, Linda, Louanne and Dan; son-in-law, Bob Everett; four grandsons, two granddaughters; and a great-grandson.

He was an inspiration to so many.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 15^th at 11:00 AM at Emmanuel Church