Petie, or Paul Richard Petersen as he was also known, surprised his family by being born April 27th, 1963, 11 years after their next youngest child. Stanley and Jeanette Petersen raised their children in Greenville and brought Petie up in the church, where he served as an acolyte. His positive spirit bloomed from a young age--his siblings remember fondly their baby brother doing a monkey dance to make the family laugh. As a child he loved camping, sailing, and animals.

Petie’s love of nature began early. He climbed the ranks in scouts to become an Eagle Scout and hunted with family and friends. He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture in 1985.

Paul started working with the Department of Natural Resources in 1989 with the State Parks Division and most currently as Waterways Program Grants Manager. He particularly enjoyed teaching Landscape Architecture classes at Lansing Community College.

It was while working on an Arboretum project in Grand Rapids that Petie met Diane, who he married in 1990. While living in Holt, their children grew up raising chickens and completing triathlons. Not only did the family enjoy the good times while traveling, biking, backpacking and hiking, Petie’s kids have countless fond memories with him and cherish even the everyday activities they did together.

Petie had a special way of making sure everyone in his life knew how much he cared about them. Whether it was saying “I love you” to his kids or sending good morning Bitmojis to loved ones, he wanted to let people know he was thinking about them every day. Petie always made an effort to be close to family, even with the distance after moving to Pentwater. Time with his newborn granddaughter was especially important.

Petie will be dearly missed. He is survived by his wife, Diane, son Brian and fiancé Alice Kilvington, granddaughter Lucy and daughter Ingrid Petersen, siblings Tom and Amy (Smith) and 5 nieces and nephews and dogs Bo and Ursie.

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, March 19th at Phoenix Event Center at Unity Lansing (2395 Washington Rd, Lansing, MI 48911) from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Everyone is encouraged to come with fond memories and stories to share of Petie. Instead of black, please wear something Petie would enjoy, such as Tie Dye or MSU apparel. Those who wish to remember Petie in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Argus Service Dog Foundation.

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