Gordy Peterson dies after home accident

Gordy Peterson was a big man at Maple Lake High School and that status had nothing to do with his height. Peterson was one of the most beloved staff members ever to walk the halls of MLHS.

An accident in the Isanti home of his brother on Thanksgiving Day took the life of longtime Maple Lake High School coach and counselor. Peterson suffered a fall and was hospitalized at the Hennepin County Medical Center until he died on Sunday, Nov. 30.

Peterson grew up in Minneapolis and was a 1956 graduate of Edison High School. He played football for the Minnesota Gophers, graduating from the UofM in 1960. He taught social studies and coached football and wrestling at Green Bay East high School and at St. Croix Falls High School before obtaining his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1973. Later that same year, Peterson and his wife, Marilyn, moved to this area when Peterson was hired as the MLHS guidance counselor.

At Maple Lake High School, Peterson also served as athletic director, as the district’s first Community Education director, and as a coach for basketball, softball and wrestling. But it was in the Irish football program that Peterson devoted 28 years of effort as a head coach and as an assistant. When he stepped down from coaching and retired from MLHS in 2002, he remained a fan of the Irish and the Golden Gophers.

Peterson served as an officer in a variety of professional organizations during his years at MLHS, which included the presidency of the Minnesota Federation of Teachers and the Central Minnesota Counselors Association. After his retirement from the school district, he worked as a realtor for Oak Realty in Annandale and continued to stay involved in high school athletics as coordinator for the Minnesota State High School League Region 5A-District 20. His community activities included serving as the president of the Lake John Association and as a council member for St. John’s Lutheran Church in Annandale.

MLHS Principal Mary James said Peterson devoted himself to those around him.

“Gordy always had time for you,” she said. “He was positive, upbeat, and great fun. I found working with Gordy a real pleasure. He managed to help me see the other side of many issues and helped me become a better teacher because of working with him.

“When I became principal, Gordy helped me every step of the way. He was open to taking on many different jobs, including going back into the classroom to teach social studies when we had to cut positions because of funding.

More information appears in this week’s issue of the Messenger.

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