Jack W. Petersen August 22, 1925 - Sept. 12, 2018 SOUTH BEND, IN - Jack William Petersen of Sanctuary of St. Paul's died at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 12 in Sanctuary at St. Paul's. Jack was born on August 22, 1925 in South Bend to the late Dora Mae (Morris) and George William Petersen. On November 25, 1948 in South Bend he married Helen Louise Weihrouch. Jack and Helen were married for 63 years. Surviving is his son, Mike (Jeri) Petersen of Raleigh, NC; daughter, Mary (Mike) Zangerle of Moorpark, CA; and grandchildren, Justin Zangerle of Sherman Oaks, CA and Melissa Zangerle of Valencia, CA. He was preceded in death by his wife Helen and brother, Jerome Lee Petersen of South Bend. Jack graduated from Central High School in 1943. Jack served in World War II in Company B, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Division, Seventh Army, Sixth Army Corps. He fought in Southern France in the Rhinelander Campaign and in Operation North Wind (the last German offensive during the Battle of the Bulge). Jack was decorated with the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, and by France with the rank of Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor (France's award of highest distinction). His interview for the “Veteran's History Project”, Library of Congress, 10 December 2007 can be found at: https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.67974 https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.67974/sr0001001.stream Jack was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and a Purdue fan. Jack earned a BS in Forestry (1950) and an MS in Science Education (1956) from Purdue University. He played coronet in the Purdue band. Jack was a member of Xi Sigma Pi (national forestry honorary) and Kappa Delta Pi (international education honorary). Jack worked for the H.D. Lee Mercantile Company, South Bend Lumber Yard, Roth Plating, Adams and Westlake (Elkhart), Baycote, Bendix Brake and Strut, National Standard (Niles), and Teachers Credit Union. As a metallurgist Jack was active in the American Society for Metals (ASM International) and the American Electroplaters' Society. He authored two technical articles in “Products Finishing” magazine and co-authored a chapter in Metals Handbook (8th edition). Jack was a member of VITA (Volunteers In Technical Assistance, Inc.) during which time he developed a finish for bamboo tumblers produced by Tam-Ky, Viet Nam. Burial will be private. A Memorial Service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 20 in the chapel at the Sanctuary at St. Paul's, 3602 South Ironwood Drive, South Bend, Indiana. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
09/17/2018 JFC
