Malvin R. Peterson

Malvin Reynold Peterson was born in Chicago on August 9,1937. He was the only child of Oscar Reynold Peterson and Genevieve Eva Peterson (nee Genevieve Sowizdrzal). Known to the world as Pete Peterson he graduated from Steinmetz High School in 1955, he completed his Journeyman Bricklayer’s Apprenticeship in 1959. He married Susan Norma Surma in 1959 who was a graduate of Taft High School and notably a “Pink Lady”. They had a loving marriage for 65 years.They raised five children, Michael Scott, the eldest of blessed memory, Joseph Gerard, Robert Brian, Christine Susan, and Jeanne Marie. Rachel Amdur is their loving daughter-in-law. Susan and Malvin were blessed with four grandchildren, Anna Genevieve and Lily Blanche born to Joseph and Rachel; John Dylan and Tobias Joseph born to Robert and Amy. Malvin adored his beautiful wife, Susan, and he was a good father and provider to his five children. He was also a doting grandfather. He proudly wore the clothes of the schools and sports teams of his grandchildren. He lived 32,394 days, or 88 years, 8 months, and 9 days. Most of those days were good days. Pete was blessed with good health, and a positive disposition. He was a bricklayer for 43 years and he retired with a full pension from the Trowel Trades Union local #21. He was a hard worker who never missed a day of work, and he may have laid more bricks and blocks in Chicago than just about any person who ever laid bricks in Chicago. He loved his trade. He was proud of his work, and everywhere he went around the city he could point with pride at buildings he helped build. One of his favorite accomplishments was helping to lay the glass block for the Helmut Jahn designed subway terminal at O’Hare airport. He would comment that for many years to come people would wonder what craftsman had performed such work, and he had pride knowing that the answer was him. When he was asked how tall the building would be if all the bricks he laid had been a single building he responded, Taller than the Tower of Babel. Among his passions in life was a life-time interest in fishing, growing tomatoes, managing his lawn, feeding birds with his bird feeder and walking in the forest preserves near Dam number two of the Des Plaines River.  On his walks he would find old bottles and collect wood for his brick fireplace that he built. Most people who knew Pete knew that he was a highly knowledgeable and a notable collector of old American fruit jars. He displayed his fruit jars with pride. He loved the jars for their color and for the beauty of their hand-blown glass.  He was a long-time member of the Antique Bottle Club of Northern Illinois where he found many friends and fellow collectors. Pete was one of a kind. He was a bricklayer, and he was a brick. He laid the foundation for his own good life, and for the good lives to come of his children and grandchildren. His memory will be a blessing to all who loved him. A funeral service will be held for Malvin Reynold Peterson Saturday, April 25th at 11:00am at Rago Brothers Funeral Home 7751 W. Irving Park Road; followed by interment at Acacia Park Cemetery, 7800 W. Irving Park Road.