Carl Alfred Petersen died at home on August 21, 2017 with loving family at his side. He was born on January 26,1926 to Alfred Andreas and Karoline Elise (Bang) Petersen in Brooklyn, New York.
Home was very important to Carl. He died in the home which he had lovingly restored and cared for during the past 36 years. When he was born, his parents purchased a small, brand new house on a newly paved street. On warm evenings, children came from all over the neighborhood to roller-skate there as their parents sat chatting on stoops and porches. Carl’s family lost that home during the Depression. An aunt and uncle with seven children were forced to move into the tiny Petersen home, eventually placing too great a burden on Carl’s father, the sole breadwinner. It was a difficult time for the adults, but the nine cousins had such fun together and forged lifelong bonds.
Carl attended New York public schools, graduated from Manhattan High School of Aviation Trades, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Serving on Saipan, he reached the rank of Staff Sgt.. An article in “Yank” magazine about homesteading for veterans set the course for his life. In 1948, together with three cousins, he drove a Jeep towing a small house trailer up the then unpaved Al-Can Highway to Alaska. They were real Cheechakos and made the trip during Spring break-up. This resulted in frequent delays to dig the vehicles out of the mud and to build makeshift bridges across streams. In hindsight, it was a great adventure!
Carl worked as a brakeman on the Alaska Railroad while he “proved-up” on his homestead. Veterans were not required to grow a crop, but they did have to build an access into a habitable dwelling and live on the land for nine months of the year. With his cousin and best friend, Leif Jorgensen, he felled tall Spruce trees and crafted them into logs to build a cozy cabin. They continued to buck up a tree each day for firewood. Hunting, fishing, and trapping rounded our their days.
Following an injury on the railroad, Carl returned to NY to continue his education. On a full academic scholarship, he earned a degree in Geology at Columbia University. Returning to Alaska in 1961 with his then wife, Mary Geraty, he worked one summer as a Field Geologist for BP. With children, Leif and Karaline, on the way, he changed paths and eventually became Chief Appraiser for the now Municipality of Anchorage. His weekends, however, were spent developing his original homestead cabin into a lovely and unique family home; pursuing the wily Silver Salmon in Resurrection Bay; the elusive Lake Trout on Lake Louise; and digging for clams on the Kenai Peninsula.
In 1980, Carl married Dorothy Pohls and they moved to Newcastle, Maine. Leaving Alaska was difficult, but during the 1970s oil boom, the population of the Anchorage area grew from 20,000 to over 350,000. It was definitely no longer the Alaska Carl had sought and loved. In Maine, the family (Kate was born in 1981!) settled into a lovely 1840s home on a beautiful street with wonderful neighbors. Carl continued his love of the outdoors with boating on Damariscotta Lake and River and surfcasting on Fire Island, NY.
Carl was child of the Depression and of World War II. He was competent, self-reliant, proud to be an American and proud to be an Ivy-Leaguer. He was self-contained and reserved, but was a good and loyal friend and neighbor. He loved his children, his wife, and special dog, Chloe. His warmth, humor, devotion, and gentle wisdom are deeply missed.
Carl was pre-deceased by his parents and his brother, Roy.
Carl is survived by his loving wife; son Leif Petersen of Anchorage, AK; daughter Karaline Erler (Richard) of Running Springs, CA; daughter Kate Petersen, DVM (Jeremy Collins) of Newcastle, ME; granddaughter Emily Gregg of CA; cousin Solveig (Sue) Jorgensen of LaJolla, CA; cousin Lotte-Marie (Tutta) Holtan of Tonsberg, Norway and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marie Pohls and Jim Pianta of San Antonio, TX and Fire Island, NY.
A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, September 9th at 4:00PM at Broad Bay Congregational UCC Church on Main Street in Waldoboro, Maine. An informal gathering will follow at the family home in Newcastle. All are welcome to share memories and refreshment!