Obituary of Astrid Anna Marie Peterson

Astrid Anna Marie (Bergman) Peterson passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on September 22, 2014. Astrid (Asta, as she was better known in Rockford) was born in Rockford, Illinois on August 8, 1925 to John Oscar and Hilda�Bergman, both immigrants from Sweden. She graduated from Rockford East High School in 1943. World War II was at its peak and Bob, her high school sweetheart had enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard in October 1942. They were married on one of his leaves on February 5, 1944, at Salem Lutheran Church. In November of 1945, Bob was discharged from the Coast Guard and they settled down and raised a family in Rockford and were blessed with three children, Gary, John and Janice. Asta and Bob were both active in school and church affairs. She also enjoyed playing bridge with some of her neighborhood friends and it was a source of many happy hours throughout her life. In 1953, they built a home on Whitewater Lake. Asta and the children spent many happy times there. In 1973, they made it their permanent residence and Asta and Bob enjoyed working, her at UW-Whitewater and Bob at Moksnes Manufacturing. They owned property on the Lake for 34 years. Astrid enjoyed volunteering at Irvin Young Auditorium, the Whitewater Public Library , and the Head Start Program where she read to children in Day Care Centers. Astrid taught Sunday School and even served as Sunday School Superintendent in 1990. During this time, she arranged for the murals in Fellowship Hall to brighten up the area and took great pride in this endeavor yet today. Between Rockford and Whitewater, she taught Sunday School for 20 years. She also enjoyed and played a lot of bridge, where in later years she arranged bridge sessions with friends in nursing homes. In 1981, John married Linda Koenitzer and they had three children, Lindsay (Scott) Wysocki, Sam and Megan whom Grandma and Grandpa adored. They spent many happy hours with them. In 1989, they both retired and traveled to many favorite places in the U.S., Europe and Hawaii. Gary married Barbara Westerhof in 1989. They loved to travel and included Bob and Astrid on many of their trips with the special one being to take Asta to London and Greece for a month in honor of her 80th birthday. Jan married Maurice Hincapie in 1997, and in 2002, they welcomed a baby girl, Faith, and three years later, a son, Robert Elias. These two have been an added bonus in her life, bringing much joy to the entire family. Her 89 years exemplified the life of a devout Christian woman. She made helping others a priority and specialized in bringing people together in all of her circles. She became the social coordinator for many. Bob, her loving husband of 59 years, died in 2002. She also mourned the death of her parents, a sister, a niece, a nephew and many dear friends. Funeral Services will be held at 11:30AM followed by a luncheon on Friday, September 26, 2014 at the First English Lutheran Church, 401 W. Main Street, Whitewater, WI with Rev. Steven Hanson officiating.� Visitation will be from 9:30AM -11:30AM on Friday, September 26, 2014 at the First English Lutheran Church, Whitewater, Wisconsin. Memorials can be made to First English Lutheran Church or Rainbow Hospice. The Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater, Wisconsin is assisting the family.