Charles Robert Peterson

A celebration of life will be held for Charles Robert Peterson, long time resident of Hayward & Albert Lea and short time resident of Delano, MN on Wednesday July 29 at 11am at Ascension Lutheran Church. The Reverend Mark Boorsma will officiate and the interment will take place at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will take place at Bonnerup Funeral Services on Tuesday July 28 from 5-7pm and also one hour before the service.

Charles “Chuck” or “Charlie” died peacefully at his assisted living facility on July 20, 2026 after a short battle with cancer. He was 81.

Charles was born on January 8, 1945 to Clifford and Olive Peterson in Albert Lea and grew up in Hayward, MN. Charlie graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1963. After graduation, he worked at his parent’s cafe and on the farm, while also coaching VFW baseball. He later moved to northern Colorado, where he worked on a ranch. Shortly after, he was drafted into the Army, where he served in Vietnam, and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in the winter of 1967. After recovering from his injuries, the Army sent him to West Germany and later Kansas. After being discharged, he moved back to Albert Lea, where he worked for the city for a few years before becoming a full time firefighter for the city of Albert Lea. He would continue to serve as a firefighter for 27 years and retire in 2000. With his firefighter schedule working 24 hours on, 24 hours off, he decided to take on a second job at Albert Lea Crating in the 1990s, where he worked another 15 years. Chuck also belonged to the Albert Lea Honor Guard for many years and as a part of the guard he attended funerals, supported our veterans, walked in parades and attended school events.

Chuck was very active from his youth all the way until his injuries brought him to Delano assisted living in 2023. He enjoyed fishing and hunting throughout Minnesota and the Midwest, he enjoyed golfing with friends, traveling with family, or sometimes just hanging out with family and friends, listening to stories and spinning a few yarns of his own. His sweet humble and mild manner with a quick sense of humor made him beloved by so many. When he made the move to Delano, he was quickly embraced by the community, especially our friend group. Above all, he loved his wife Mary, whom he married on June 15, 1974 in Mankato, MN. They were happily married for 39 years before Mary passed away in September of 2013.

Charlie will be lovingly missed by his sons, Jon (Mirandie) Peterson and Nathan (Jen) Peterson; grandchildren Amanda, Tristan, Sean, Leighton, and Rilynn; great-grandchildren Wesson and Waylen; his sisters, Shirley Kraushaar, Darlene (Blaine) Hoar, and Gayle (Earl) Neist; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Carole and David Hoel, Sharon and Daryl Bateman; and many nieces and nephews.

Charles was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary, his parents, Clifford and Olive; his sister, Mavis Miller and her husband Raymond Miller; his brother, Clayton Peterson; and brother-in-law Richard Kraushaar.

In lieu of flowers, send memorials to the Albert Lea VFW and American Legion Honor Guard or the Albert Lea Fire Department.