Robert L. Peters
Posted: Sunday, December 21, 2008
OAKLAND, Neb. -- Robert Lewis "Bob" Peters, 88, longtime resident, businessman, volunteer and community leader in Oakland, passed away Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008, in Oakland.
Memorials services will be at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Pelan Funeral Service in Oakland. Condolences may be sent online to www.pelanfuneralservices.com.
Bob was born in Clearfield, Pa., on May 8, 1920, to Charles F. and Pearl (McQuillen) Peters. Upon graduation from Clearfield High School in 1939, Bob attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where he met and fell in love with fellow music student, Mary Helen Holmquist of Oakland. In January 1942, halfway through his senior year, he bid farewell to his campus sweetheart and enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Before shipping out, he and Mary Helen were united in marriage in Oakland on July 27, 1942. He was stationed in Sitka, Alaska, where he served in the Coast Artillery Command. He was honorably discharged in 1946, having attained the rank of captain.
Upon his return home from the service, he joined Holmquist Grain and Lumber Company. Four years later, the couple built their home in Oakland's Morningside Addition and started their family. He spent his first 20 years at Holmquist Grain and Lumber Company as a carpenter. He assumed management of the building materials operation in 1966 and served as company secretary-treasurer from 1972 to 1982. He succeeded Merwyn Holmquist as president in 1982, a position he held until his retirement in 1999.
He served Oakland's First United Methodist Church in a volunteer capacity on the executive committee and as director of the junior and senior choirs for 43 years, with Mary Helen by his side as pianist and organist for every one of those years. He was a member of the city council from 1952 to 1956, serving as its president. He served three terms on the Oakland School Board from 1961 to 1970, serving as its vice president during his final term. He also was past president, secretary, treasurer and longtime member of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce.
He was a tireless volunteer with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts at the local, district and council levels. His involvement with the Prairie Hills Girl Scout Council was highlighted by serving on the council's board of directors and as chairman of the camp development committee, leading a five-year fundraising campaign for the development of Camp Crossed Arrows near Nickerson, Neb. He received the council's very first Thanks Badge in 1969 and in April 2008, he and Mary Helen were awarded the Spirit of Prairie Hills Award by the Prairie Hills Council in recognition of their tireless efforts to create unforgettable camping experiences for area Girl Scouts. He was the leader of Boy Scout Troop 160 in Oakland for many years and in 1966, the Mid-America Council presented him with the Silver Beaver Award in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to the council as a distinguished volunteer and leader.
He loved to laugh and was invigorated by the laughter and company of others. He had music in his heart and soul. He was inspired equally by the sublime beauties and grand wonders of our world. He sought out and celebrated the good things in life and in people. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by a sister, Barbara B. of Sonora, Calif.; his sons and daughters-in-law, Robert C. and Barbara of Omaha, and Patrick and Kristie of Crystal, Minn.; a daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and William McMahon of Des Moines; a daughter, Sandra Snoke of Manhattan, Kan.; grandchildren, Stephen and Elizabeth Snoke, Keenan McMahon and Tami Osberg, Mollie McMahon and Joseph and Celia Peters; great-grandchildren, Shannon and Liam Schadel; and special friend, Karen Nelson.
He was preceded in death by his wife, traveling companion and love of his life for 69 years, Mary Helen in February 2008; his mother and father; sisters, Amy "Dolly" Peters and Dorothea "Dill" Cochrane; and a brother, Charles "Budd" Peters.
Memorial donations to First United Methodist Church, Oakland and Prairie Hills Girl Scouts Council of Nebraska in care of Pelan Funeral Service, P.O. Box 51, Oakland, NE. 68045.
Memorials services will be at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Pelan Funeral Service in Oakland. Condolences may be sent online to www.pelanfuneralservices.com.
Bob was born in Clearfield, Pa., on May 8, 1920, to Charles F. and Pearl (McQuillen) Peters. Upon graduation from Clearfield High School in 1939, Bob attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where he met and fell in love with fellow music student, Mary Helen Holmquist of Oakland. In January 1942, halfway through his senior year, he bid farewell to his campus sweetheart and enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Before shipping out, he and Mary Helen were united in marriage in Oakland on July 27, 1942. He was stationed in Sitka, Alaska, where he served in the Coast Artillery Command. He was honorably discharged in 1946, having attained the rank of captain.
Upon his return home from the service, he joined Holmquist Grain and Lumber Company. Four years later, the couple built their home in Oakland's Morningside Addition and started their family. He spent his first 20 years at Holmquist Grain and Lumber Company as a carpenter. He assumed management of the building materials operation in 1966 and served as company secretary-treasurer from 1972 to 1982. He succeeded Merwyn Holmquist as president in 1982, a position he held until his retirement in 1999.
He served Oakland's First United Methodist Church in a volunteer capacity on the executive committee and as director of the junior and senior choirs for 43 years, with Mary Helen by his side as pianist and organist for every one of those years. He was a member of the city council from 1952 to 1956, serving as its president. He served three terms on the Oakland School Board from 1961 to 1970, serving as its vice president during his final term. He also was past president, secretary, treasurer and longtime member of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce.
He was a tireless volunteer with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts at the local, district and council levels. His involvement with the Prairie Hills Girl Scout Council was highlighted by serving on the council's board of directors and as chairman of the camp development committee, leading a five-year fundraising campaign for the development of Camp Crossed Arrows near Nickerson, Neb. He received the council's very first Thanks Badge in 1969 and in April 2008, he and Mary Helen were awarded the Spirit of Prairie Hills Award by the Prairie Hills Council in recognition of their tireless efforts to create unforgettable camping experiences for area Girl Scouts. He was the leader of Boy Scout Troop 160 in Oakland for many years and in 1966, the Mid-America Council presented him with the Silver Beaver Award in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to the council as a distinguished volunteer and leader.
He loved to laugh and was invigorated by the laughter and company of others. He had music in his heart and soul. He was inspired equally by the sublime beauties and grand wonders of our world. He sought out and celebrated the good things in life and in people. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by a sister, Barbara B. of Sonora, Calif.; his sons and daughters-in-law, Robert C. and Barbara of Omaha, and Patrick and Kristie of Crystal, Minn.; a daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and William McMahon of Des Moines; a daughter, Sandra Snoke of Manhattan, Kan.; grandchildren, Stephen and Elizabeth Snoke, Keenan McMahon and Tami Osberg, Mollie McMahon and Joseph and Celia Peters; great-grandchildren, Shannon and Liam Schadel; and special friend, Karen Nelson.
He was preceded in death by his wife, traveling companion and love of his life for 69 years, Mary Helen in February 2008; his mother and father; sisters, Amy "Dolly" Peters and Dorothea "Dill" Cochrane; and a brother, Charles "Budd" Peters.
Memorial donations to First United Methodist Church, Oakland and Prairie Hills Girl Scouts Council of Nebraska in care of Pelan Funeral Service, P.O. Box 51, Oakland, NE. 68045.
Tributes:
Leave A Tribute Once your tributes are approved, they will appear above.
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
