NZ PETERSON JENS OBITUARY

OBITUARY

of

MR. JENS P. PETERSEN

 sent to me by

his GRANDSON

COLIN PETERSEN

A resident of the Dominion for the past 58 years and of Palmerston North for two decades, Mr. Jens Petersen passed away at his late residence, No. 4 Edward street, yesterday, after a very brief illness.  A native of Saebe, Denmark, Mr. Petersen came to the dominion in the sailing ship Friedeburgh, landing at Napier on August 24, 1875.  He proceeded to the Wairarapa, where in the ensuing years he assisted to a material degree in the pioneering work which confronted the early settlers of those days, while he assisted in the laying of the railway which was then being constructed across the Rimutakas to link up the capital City with the Wairarapa and which ultimately connected up with the Napier Line at Woodville.  The deceased gentleman also took an active interest in the public affairs of the Mauriceville West district, and was for many years chairman of the Mauriceville West Co-operative Dairy Factory Coy., one of the first co-operative concerns to be launched in the Dominion, while he was also a chairman of the school committee.  In 1886 he married Miss Anna Nielsen, a daughter of one of the earliest pioneers of the district, and he continued to reside in the Wairarapa till 1915 when he removed to Palmerston North and for some nine years thereafter he was engaged in the building trade.  On retiring from active pursuits he took up his residence in Edward Street and remained there till his death. 

Three years ago Mr. Petersen suffered a severe illness, but he made a good recovery and, to outward appearances, was in robust health when a stroke hastened his end when he was within a few days of his 77th birthday.  In addition to his widow, he leaves an adult family of six sons and one daughter, the members being Messrs William, James, Ernest George and Arthur, all being residences of the city, and Mr. Oliver Petersen of Miramar, Wellington, and Mrs. W. Whaley, of Palmerston North.  There are also 16 grandchildren.  One daughter, Mrs. Wallace, predeceased her Father in 1908. 

The funeral will take place to-morrow, the remains being laid to rest in the Palmerston North Cemetery.