Jean Peterson Obituary

Jean Ann Peterson, long-time resident of Colorado Springs, went to be with her Lord on September 20, 2009. Jean was born in Houston, Texas to parents Arthur and Hilda Jo Hovda. The family soon moved to Austin, Minnesota and eventually to Englewood, Colorado, where Jean attended Sinclair Junior High and Englewood High School. Jean was elected Head Girl at Englewood High School where she met and eventually married the Head Boy, John Peterson. She attended Colorado State College as an English major where she joined the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and graduated magna cum laude. Jean and John moved to Colorado Springs after their wedding in 1966 as teachers for District #11. Jean taught at Irving Junior High School, Calvary Preschool and, after graduating with her master's degree in reading from U.C.C.S., Pine Valley Elementary School in Academy District #20. Jean retired from teaching in 2006 to take care of her family, garden, read, write, and spend time with close friends. Jean could identify any species of bird or flower, win any game of trivial pursuit and nothing brought her greater joy than watching a child's face light up after learning to read. Jean was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Ralph Raymond Hovda; and husband, John Peterson. She is survived by her daughter, Amy Summitt; son-in-law, Jeff Summitt; and two granddaughters, Addison and Aurora. The family would like to thank Odyssey Hospice and Sunrise Assisted Living for their generous and tender care during her final days. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, October 2nd, at 4:30 p.m., at Calvary United Methodist Church, 4210 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80918. If desired, donations may be made in Jean's name to the Association for Frontotemporal Dementias, www.ftd-picks.org.