Lawrence “Pete” Pedersen, age 80, of Spooner, WI, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at Maple Ridge Care Center in Spooner.

Lawrence Holger Pedersen was born February 5, 1942, in Elgin, IL the son of Holger and Ellen (Hacker) Pedersen.

Pete grew up in Elgin, IL with his three sisters who called him Larry. After high school, Pete joined the U.S. Navy on February 14, 1962, and served his country until his honorable discharge on February 8, 1964. Pete moved to Spooner, WI with his longtime friend, Jim Reynolds, who had just bought Ma & Pa’s Resort. Soon after arriving in Spooner, he met and married Carolyn Rizzo. Pete spent the next 46 years being a husband, provider, and father to Carolyn and her four children, their grandchildren and great grandchildren and he loved every minute of it.

Pete worked at Lund Boat Factory in Shell Lake until he decided to transition to LP in Hayward, WI, where he was a Line Operator until he retired. Pete’s true love was in the carpentry trade where he mastered his skills. Pete was the friend everyone knew they could call on when they needed something built or fixed.

When Pete wasn’t working, he was outdoors. From hunting and fishing, or building tree stands in the woods, he truly loved to be in nature. He particularly loved being on his pontoon with his grandsons and wife, fishing and just enjoying the water.

Pete is survived by his sisters, Pat (Yogi) Sunderlage, Mary Eggebrecht; daughter, Angel Fillmore-Miller; stepchildren, Mark (Trudy) Rizzo, Kay Rizzo, Theresa Rizzo, and Mary (Barry) O’Neil; grandchildren, Jason, Brian, Stephen, Brandon, Brock, Ben, Mary, Larisa, and Nicole; and many great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Pete is preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Pedersen; parents, Holger and Ellen Pedersen; sister, Sue Foss; nephew, Dean Eggebrecht; and brother-in-law Bob Eggebrecht.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, December 18 from 2-6 PM at Hub’s Riverbend. The family has chosen to celebrate both Carolyn and Pete, so please stop by to share your stories, have some food and drink and celebrate the joy they brought all our lives.

Last Update: Nov 25, 2022 10:27 am CST