Robert G. Peterson

Robert G. Peterson, 75, of rural Burnettsville, passed away Sunday, August 17, 2014, at his home.

He was born March 29, 1939, in Logansport, to George Washington and Norma LuLu Hayes Peterson.  After graduating from Burnettsville High School in 1957, he attended one year at Purdue University and then enrolled in the Agriculture Short Course.  On March 5, 1961, he married Marlene Kilmer in Sitka; she survives.

Starting when he was 14, Bob farmed for over 50 years with only red IH equipment raising both grain and livestock.  He was a member of the Lockport Church where he served as Sunday school teacher for 60 years, deacon for 40 years, and other church offices.  He was a member of the Lihac (Lafayette Indiana Historical Auto Club) and POCI (Pontiac-Oakland Club International) Clubs.  Bob was a former member of the Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Carroll County for 25 years.  He was an Adams Township Advisory Board member also.

While Bob loved farming, in later years he had time to indulge his passion of restoring antique automobiles.  His favorite was restoring 1958 Pontiac Bonnevilles including a hardtop and two convertibles.  His cars had won several awards at car shows, and he had judged cars at the national Pontiac shows.  Also, he had restored a 1929 International truck.  International Scouts were another part of his restoration hobby.  Bob had traveled overseas in his pursuit of car parts and had made several friends in Sweden that he would routinely send car parts.  But above all, he simply loved gardening and attending Lockport Church activities with his wife.

In addition to his wife, Bob is survived by two daughters, Julia (Jeffrey) Potts of Burnettsville, and Cynthia (Jerry) Reinke of Flora; six grandchildren, Jacob (Kelly) Potts, Jason Potts, Joshua Potts, Abigail (Jon) Keisling, Hannah Reinke, and Ethan Reinke; two great grandchildren, Jamie and Kelsey Potts; and two sisters, Linda (Jim) Landis of LaFountaine, and Mary Ellen (Dale) Zinn of Flora.

Visitation for Bob will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2014, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Genda Funeral Home Reinke Chapel in Flora.  Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2014, at Lockport Church with Pastor Nord Zootman officiating.  Burial will follow in Hickory Grove Cemetery in Burnettsville.  Memorials in Bob’s name may be made to Lockport Church and Gideon’s International.  Online condolences may be directed www.gendafuneralhome.com.