Paul J. Petersen, 88, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, died Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, at Prairie Manor Care Center.

He was born June 28, 1926, in Morris, Illinois, to Holm and Victoria (Claypool) Petersen. He attended Erienna and Morris schools, and made his living as a farmer, farming in Erienna and Nettle Creek Townships from 1948 to 1960. Paul and Hazel Cleaver were married at the Morris Methodist Church in Morris, Illinois, on June 5, 1948. Paul and Hazel then moved to Thomson, Illinois, where he operated a Grade A dairy farm until 1973. The couple came to Minnesota to attend a world plowing match and while in Minnesota ended up buying a farm and moving to Blooming Prairie, where they farmed until retiring in 1991. They enjoyed their travels, including their winters in Arizona since 1978, their trip to Denmark, and their RV trips across the entire United States, including New York City. He was most often seen wearing a John Deere hat. Paul and Hazel enjoyed camping, and Paul became the ‘official campground greeter,’ willing to visit with anyone, anytime. They were camp hosts in Fairbanks, Alaska on three different occasions. Paul was very mechanical and enjoyed doing machinery repairs, and was a very gentle man who never raised his voice, even when Caroline and Lola were his young farm hands.

Paul is survived by his wife Hazel Petersen of Blooming Prairie; his two daughters: Lola (Bill) Manning of Thomson, Illinois, and Caroline (Steve) Houzenga of Blooming Prairie; six grandchildren: Christa (Dave) Curley of Fulton, Illinois, Bryce (Jessica) Manning of Marion, Iowa, Dustin (Diana) Manning of Moline, Illinois, Alan Manning (Wendy Benson) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Donise (Darin) Thostenson of Blooming Prairie, and Chontel (Tom) Thompson of Omaha, Nebraska; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters Alice (Peter) Matuszewski, Lois Wicks, Barbara Arnold, all of Morris, Illinois, and brother-in-law Larry Kenney, also of Morris.

He was preceded in death by his parents Holm and Victoria Petersen; his brother and sister-in-law Robert and Bonnie Petersen; sisters Anna Marie Henry and Phyllis Kenney, sister and brother-in-law Helen and Frank Rogers.

Friends may call at the Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014. A private family service will follow. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Morris, Illinois, at a later date. Memorials can be directed to the St. Croix Hospice, the Prairie Manor Care Center, or recipient of donor’s choice. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.