John E. Pedersen

John E. Pedersen, 85, of Humboldt, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2017 at his home with his family by his side. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt with the Rev. Gene Broughton officiating. Burial with full military rites will be in Union Cemetery, Humboldt. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.
John Ebsen Pedersen, the son of Viggo and Margaruite (Ebsen) Pedersen, was born September 9, 1931 on a farm near Hardy, Iowa. The family soon moved to a farm near Hardy where John was raised and educated. Following his graduation from Vernon Consolidated Schools, John went to work for Sande Construction in Humboldt. In 1950, John was drafted into the United States Army. He received his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas before his deployment to Yugoslavia and Italy. Following his honorable discharge, he returned home and on April 27, 1957, he was united in marriage to Gerry Beeson. John’s work with Sande Construction took the family to Pleasantville and Audubon. Gerry and John then purchased a farm near “Little Africa” in Kossuth County. They raised their children there and managed their farming operation, which included cattle and hogs. In 2008, the couple moved to Humboldt and in 2014, John retired from farming.
John was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. He loved to farm, especially raising his livestock and enjoyed his woods. He enjoyed fishing and traveling with Gerry, which included trips throughout Europe, Central America, and the United States.
John is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Gerry; his children, Steve (Anne Marie) Pedersen of Rochester, MN, Sheila (John) Eller of Minneapolis, Ron (Lori) Pedersen of Nora Springs, IA, and Jeff Pedersen of Orlando, FL; grandchildren, Michael Eller, Matt (Hannah) Eller, Michelle Eller, Ben (Sasha) Pedersen, Chris (Heather) Pedersen, Rachelle (Irakli) Naridze, Samantha (Chris) Lopez, Thedita Pedersen, Jeffy Pedersen, Shannon Pedersen, and Stephanie Pedersen; great grandchildren, Patricia Pedersen, William Pedersen, Everett Eller, and Sophia Naridze; brother, Kenneth (Karen) Pedersen of Unionville, MO; and sisters, Mary Weyer of Humboldt and Betty Swenson of Story City; and sister-in-law, Pearl Pedersen of Humboldt. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Arnold and Cecil; nephews, Craig Swenson and Gary Weyer; and brothers-in-law, Curtis Weyer and Meb Swenson.