FRANKLIN - James Dennis Petersen, Sr., 78, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 6, 2020.
The son of the late Donald Wayne Petersen and Mildred Louise (Robinson) Petersen, he was born April 4, 1942, and reared in Waterloo, Iowa.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, David Wayne Petersen.
He is survived by his loving, devoted wife, confidant, and best friend of 56 years, Lana Carol (Woodbury) Petersen. Other surviving family members are his sister, Donna Jean (Petersen) of Tehachapi, California; his daughter, Carla Christine (Petersen) Sankuer and husband Fredrick Sankuer, of Florence, South Carolina; and his son, James Dennis Petersen, Jr., and wife Donna Renee (Anders) Petersen of Brevard; five grandchildren, Ashton Brooke Streett, Lauren Noel Sankuer and Fredrick Lane Sankuer of Florence, South Carolina; Grayson James Petersen and Andrew Mitchell Petersen of Brevard; and four nieces and nephews.
After graduating from Bob Jones Academy in Greenville, South Carolina, Jim earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with minors in English, Accounting, and Business Management at Bob Jones University. He spent fifteen years in management with JCPenney before teaching six years at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wisconsin. The next 24 years, “Mr. Pete” was principal of four Christian schools in North and South Carolina, retiring from Victory Christian School in Sylva. He also taught high school English, Math, and Computer Applications.
Jim Trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior May 28, 1967, and became a born-again Christian. He understood that he could not continue putting the Lord off according to Proverbs 29:1, “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
Mr. Pete was personally involved in the ministry of churches as a deacon, song leader, choir director, special music provider and Sunday school teacher. A long-time member of Victory Baptist Church in Sylva, he enjoyed teaching the Mature Adult Sunday School class.
Jim always enjoyed spending time with his family, taking road trips, listening to reasonable music and watching sporting events.
The family received friends from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Sunday, July 12 at Victory Baptist Church, 25 Victory Church Road, midway between Franklin and Sylva on US 441. Funeral Services were held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, July 12 at Victory Baptist Church. Pastor Rusty Wolfrey and Rev. Bob Cadenhead officiated. A graveside service was held following the funeral at Forest Hill Cemetery in Morganton.
Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com.