Blooming Prairie lost a car aficionado, reliable business partner and friend on Saturday night when Gregory Dean Peterson, 53, of Medford, unexpectedly passed away.

Greg had battled leukemia, finished his last round of chemotherapy and was seemingly recovering before his death.

Greg started Extreme Powder Coating in Blooming Prairie in 2000 and became part of a reciprocal and expanding business scene with Metal Services, Heavy Metal and other businesses. He enjoyed kart and modified dirt track racing, as well as hot rods and street rod building.

Last year, Greg told the Herald he saw the lack of powder coating options in southern Minnesota and took advantage of it, applying color to cars to sheet metal all the way down to simple railings.

Heavy Metal owner Tyler Mundy had only known Greg about a year, but became friends with him and respected his professionalism and fast, hard work.

“I really enjoyed doing business with him and being a friend of his,” Mundy said.

Just east of Greg’s business, Dennis Heimerman, owner of Metal Services, was there when Greg started Extreme. Heimerman was the first person Greg called to start a powder coating business, Greg had said. The news took Heimerman by surprise on Sunday.

Heimerman’s employees worked with Greg on a daily basis, and were looking forward to his return in December. Dennis said he and others were simply in shock when they heard about his death. It will take some time to get past the feeling of business without Greg.

“He’s just really going to be missed, no matter what happens, just a great guy,” Heimerman said.

Despite the loss, employees at Extreme Powder Coating plan to push through the tough time and carry on the business as usual. Extreme Powder Coating is nearly in its 14th year in business.

“He was a good supporter of small-town business,” Barb Peterson said of her son, and mentioned Greg would have wanted that to continue.

Barb said she, employees and customers have all been close during this tough time, and they are going to get through it because of that.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29, at Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.