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Tom Petersen, 48
Tom Petersen, 48, died Feb. 24, 2000, in Madison.
He was the son of Austin and Vera Petersen, who have lived in River Falls since 1972.
He was born Oct. 20, 1951 in Wisconsin Rapids and attended high school there. He earned a bachelor's degree in math and theater from UW-Green Bay in 1974 and did graduate work at Florida State University.
Mr. Petersen worked as technical director at the Guthrie II Theatre in Minneapolis in the late 1970s. He was lighting designer for the Jekyll Island Musical Theater in Georgia from 1979-80 and director of the Wisconsin Arts Project from 1980 to 1984.
He directed the restoration and re-opening of the Barrymore Theater in Madison from 1984 to 1988.
He was head of a small business consulting program for the School of Business, UW-Madison, 1988-92.
Mr. Petersen was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1991. He was dismissed by the university. He became one of the first test cases of the Americans with Disabilities Act with a judge ruling that his dismissal was illegal.
Since 1992 to the present, Mr. Petersen was owner of Brave Hearts Theater in Madison.
He is survived by his wife: Lou Ann Erickson Petersen, Madison; son: Andrew Austin Petersen, Madison; parents: Austin and Vera Petersen; sisters: Dr. Sally Karioth, Tallahassee, Fla., and Dr. Christina Petersen, Nashville, Tenn.; and niece: Amanda Karioth, Tallahassee, Fla.
Theresa E. Jacobsen, 88
Theresa E. Jacobsen, 88, of Oakdale, Minn., died Feb. 22, 2000, at Linden Health Care Center in Stillwater, Minn.
Survivors include her daughter Diane McLaughlin of River Falls.
The daughter of Nicholas and Josephine DeRose, she was born May 6, 1911, in St. Paul.
She attended school in St. Paul and upon finishing her education, traveled to California where she managed households for such stars as Lucy and Desi Arnaz.
After returning to the Midwest she married Wilbert C. Pechuman. They made their home near Afton, Minn., where they raised five girls and one boy.
Several years after her first husband's death, she married Frederick Jacobsen. They made their home in Oakdale.
Mrs. Jacobsen was preceded in death by her husbands and her son Donald Henry.
She is survived by her daughters and three sons-in-law: Betty and George Mitchell of Palm Desert, Calif., Shirley Frederick of Stillwater, Carol and Dennis Price of Loomis, Calif., Diane McLaughlin of River Falls and Barbara and Bob Conrad of Boulder City, Nev.; sisters: Cathy and Josephine; brother: Jim; 16 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A memorial mass will be held at noon March 11 at St. Charles Catholic Church in Bayport, Minn. Memorials may be given to a charity of the donor's choice.
Barbara B. Perry, 50
Barbara B. Perry, 50, of Lyle, Minn., died Feb. 25, 2000 at her home.
The daughter of Fredrick and Shirley (Elliott) Kurtz, she was born July 26, 1949 in River Falls. She graduated from River Falls High School in 1967. She then went to Wisconsin State University, Stout, in Menomonie and graduated in December of 1971 with a degree in home economics.
During her college years, she met Roger Perry, and they married on Aug. 15, 1970 at Luther Memorial Church in River Falls. They moved to Lyle in January of 1972.
Mrs. Perry was a substitute teacher in Lyle until she accepted a position as a home economics teacher. She taught until her health compelled her to take a medical leave.
She was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lyle. She was an advisor for the FHA and enjoyed quilting, cooking, embroidery work and teaching.
She is survived by her husband: Roger Perry of Lyle; two sons and a daughter-in-law: Matthew and Kerri Perry of Austin, Minn., and Scott Perry of Owatonna, Minn.; grandchildren: Brittany and Emily Olsen and Natalie Perry, all of Austin, Minn.; parents: Fred and Shirley Kurtz of River Falls; two sisters and brothers-in-law: Karen and Moises Hernandez of Mesa, Ariz., and Gayle and Paul Fesperman of Duncan, S.C.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents.
The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lyle.
Interment will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 3, at Greenwood Cemetery in River Falls. Following that service, lunch will be served at Luther Memorial Church.
Visitation will be held 1-3 p.m. Thursday at Our Saviors Lutheran Church.
Matt and Scott Perry and Kyle and Jason Hernandez will be honorary pallbearers.
Vernon D. Hansen, 72
Vernon Douglas Hansen, 72, of River Falls died Feb. 26, 2000, at his home after a battle with cancer.
He was born July 29, 1927 in St. Croix Falls to Hans and Sophie Hansen of Cushing.
He was a 1945 graduate of Luck High School. He enjoyed sports and excelled in basketball and softball.
He attended college in River Falls for a year. He then entered the U.S. Army Air Force for three years, achieving the rank of staff sergeant. He served in the Pacific Theater, Philippine Islands.
He married his high school sweetheart, Melba Petersen, at the Luck Lutheran Church in 1949. They lived in Minneapolis for several years and then moved to Scobey, Mont., where Mr. Hansen managed a dry goods store.
He moved to River Falls in 1960 and managed Hagberg's Department Store. In 1965 he went to work at Midwest Stores Inc. in Minneapolis. He retired from there as president after 25 years.
During his semi-retirement years, he worked at Snyder's Drug Store and Ben Franklin in River Falls.
He enjoyed sports, including basketball, football, golf and fast-pitch softball. He umpired, coached and played. He also spent many hours outdoors tending his lawn and garden.
He taught youth at Ezekiel Lutheran Church.
His family said he will be remembered for his warm smile, kindness, compassion and patience.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Margaret Warndahl.
He is survived by Melba, his wife of 50 years; his children and their spouses: Wendy and Bernard Westendorf of River Falls, Jon and Sue Hansen of Hudson, Jeff and Janine Hansen of Englewood, Fla., and Darcy and Roger Crandell of River Falls; four grandchildren: Joe and Jenna Hansen and Rebekah and Ashley O'Brien; and two sisters: Lucille Paulson of Cushing and Lorene McFaggen of St. Croix Falls.
Visitation was held Tuesday at Cashman's Mortuary. The funeral was held Wednesday at Ezekiel Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dave Kebschull officiating. Burial was at Greenwood Cemetery.
James F. Dollahon, 38
James "Jim" F. Dollahon, 38, died suddenly Feb. 25, 2000, at his home in River Falls.
The son of Dr. Jim and Kathryn Dollahon, he was born Sept. 7, 1961 in Hudson.
On Sept. 26, 1987 he married Julie Miller.
He graduated from River Falls High School in 1980 and attended UW-River Falls.
He was hired by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department in 1984. He worked as the recreation/ water patrol officer and was an investigator at the time of his death.
He was a member of the River Falls United Methodist Church, River Falls Lions Club and Theta Chi Fraternity. He was a former president of the Lions Club and received its Outstanding Leader award.
He was preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his wife: Julie; mother: Kathryn Dollahon of Jacksonville, Fla.; sister and brother-in-law Grace: and David Bartholet, Golden Valley, Minn.; and niece: Katy.
Visitation was held Monday at Ezekiel Lutheran Church. The funeral was Tuesday at Ezekiel with the Revs. Larry McCann and Jenny Arneson officiating.
Pallbearers were Kevin Gehler, Jack Sondergard, Darrel Waldera, Dave Bartholet, Scott Brownell, Neil Gulbranson, Phil Deiss and Erick Roeske.
Memorial donations may be made to the James F. Dollahon Memorial Fund.
Helen Foster Naylor, 91
Helen Foster Naylor, 91, died Feb. 25, 2000 at the River Falls Area Hospital following a series of illnesses.
The daughter of Effie B. and John W. Foster, she was born June 14, 1908 in Smithfield, Ohio. She was raised on the family farm.
She graduated from Smithfield High School and then attended Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. Her professional interests included teaching literature, librarianship and vocal music.
In August of 1930 she married Charles Loring Naylor. They lived in Smithfield, Ohio, until 1976 when they moved to River Falls. They raised one daughter, Marilyn.
Charles Naylor died in River Falls in 1980.
Mrs. Naylor was a member of the River Falls United Methodist Church and the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Her hobbies included reading, sewing, music, gardening and travel.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Dr. Joseph B. Foster; her parents; and her husband, Charles.
She is survived by a sister: Ruth Murray of Arizona; and a daughter: Dr. Marilyn Naylor of River Falls.
Services were Sunday, Feb. 27, at the United Methodist Church. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery. Arrangements were by Cashman Mortuary.
The Rev. John C. Fritzmeier, 81
The Rev. John C. Fritzmeier, a former pastor of the First Congregational Church of River Falls, died Jan. 26, 2000, in Blair, Neb. He was 81.
He is survived by his children and their spouses: Lloyd and Sandy Fritzmeier of Atlanta, Ga., Dorothy and Ron Kennedy of Omaha, Neb., Bob Fritzmeier of Mapleton, Iowa, and David and Char Fritzmeier of Beatrice, Neb. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren.
Services will be held at a later date at the Congregational UCC Church in Blair. For more information, call the River Falls Congregational Church at 426-2785.
Memorials are preferred to Crowell Home or the Congregational Church, Blair.
