Eric Petersen

Eric Richmond Petersen, 76, passed away in Nampa, Idaho, on Saturday, 20 October 2018.
Eric was born in Queens, New York, on 4 November 1941, to Svend and Leverta Petersen. He had one older sister, Joan. Between this family of four, they had many good times. Eric would often recount stories of building sandcastles with his sister and playing card games with his father, or of how his mother absolutely doted upon him.
Eric went to college at the University of Kansas, where he earned a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering on 1 June 1964.
Following his college career, Eric joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and volunteered to go to Vietnam.
In 1969, during his first tour, Eric had many harrowing and bizarre experiences, but one day he met Hoang Kim Nguyen and instantly fell in love. He took a second tour intent on winning her heart, and then a third so that they could marry in May of 1971.
Eric and Hoang were unable to be together several times, due to military duties and/or work, even after arriving in the United States in September of 1971. They survived each and every trial thrown their direction. Their faith was tested when Eric was nearly paralyzed for life after a severe car accident. God blessed the two, though, and Eric made a near-full recovery. Approximately a year later, the two had their first child, a daughter named Kim. Four years later, they had their second daughter, Kaaren, and two years after that, their son, Eric H.
Eric was very proud of his son-in-law, Russell ""Chris"" Lindsay, and daughter-in-law, Sarah Petersen.
He also has four grandchildren: Caelan, Kiera, Lilly, and Revelin Lindsay.
Eric worked as a Captain in the Army until 1975. He retired as a Civil Engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers in 2003, and worked for Lockheed Martin until 2011. He was responsible for the oversight and construction of many projects, especially at Buckley Air Force Base.
His favorite hobbies included playing baseball, painting like Bob Ross, collecting stamps, telling stories, undertaking home improvement projects, and traveling.
Eric was a confirmed Catholic. His funeral mass will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
As a Vietnam veteran, Eric will be buried in the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado, on 2 November 2018.
Eric is survived by his wife of 47 years, his children, his son- and daughter-in-law, and his grandchildren. To Eric, family was the most important thing in his life. He loved them more than anything, and he devoted every day to them. Just before he passed, his final wishes were only that they love one another as he loved them.

Visitation: November 1, 2018 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - South Metro/Centennial
5303 E County Line Rd
Centennial, CO 80122

Rosary: November 1, 2018 7:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - South Metro/Centennial
5303 E County Line Rd
Centennial, CO 80122

Funeral Mass: November 2, 2018 11:00 am

St. Thomas More Catholic Church
8035 S. Quebec St
Englewood, CO 80112

Committal Service: November 2, 2018 2:00 pm

Fort Logan National Cemetery
3698 South Sheridan Boulevard
Denver, CO 80236
(303) 761-0117
https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftlogan.asp