Senator John A. Peterson View All Years

JOHN A. PETERSON

John A. Peterson was born on January 3, 1935, in Albia, Iowa, to H. C. and Bernice Morehead Peterson. He passed away on February 3, 2005, at the age of seventy. He is survived by three sons, Russell and his wife Vicki of Overland Park, Kansas, Jay and his wife Dora of Moulton, Iowa, and Christopher and his wife Peggy of Florida; a daughter, Gretchen Van Walbeek and her husband Cornie of Pella, Iowa; two sisters, Peg Huluska of Pella and Helen Schleier of West Des Moines; eleven grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Peterson graduated from Albia High School in 1953 and attended Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. He returned to Albia to work in the family cattle auction business. He was a partner in the Albia Sales Company until the mid-1980s. He was well known throughout southern Iowa as an auctioneer. He was a member of the Iowa Auctioneers Association and the Iowa Livestock Auction Association. Peterson married Mary Jo Hoff.

Peterson served as chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Party from 1960–1964. In the mid-1980s, Peterson entered into politics. He was elected to serve in the Iowa Senate in 1985. He was a strong voice in the legislature, working to help those affected by the Farm Crisis years of the 1980s. Peterson was a candidate for Governor of the state of Iowa in 1990.

Peterson was active in his community. He was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was a former president of the Moravia and Albia High School booster clubs.

Peterson was a Monroe County Democrat. He served in the Iowa Senate from 1986–1992 during the second half of the 71st General Assembly, the 72nd, 72nd Extraordinary, 72nd Second Extraordinary, 73rd, 74th, 74th Extraordinary, and 74th Second Extraordinary General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable John A. Peterson, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

PAUL MCKINLEY

KEITH A. KREIMAN

TOM RIELLY

Committee