Gordon Emanuel Pedersen

Gordon Emanuel PEDERSEN Gordon Pedersen's life and experiences mirror those of the country he loved and served so well. He was a deeply religious man and life-long Lutheran who attended services at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church for over forty years. Born December 16, 1916, of Danish stock, he was the youngest and last surviving of eleven children. His parents were farmers in Withee, Wisconsin. When the farm failed during the Great Depression, he left high school to join a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the forests of Wisconsin. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and saw service initially in Seattle on a fireboat based at Shilshole Marina. Transferred to the U.S. Navy, he saw service on troop ships in the Pacific theatre. Gordon attended the University of Washington under the G-I Bill of Rights, obtaining his Bachelor of Arts degree in the 1950's. As a member of the Naval Reserve, Gordon was recalled to duty during the Korean War, serving at sea in the Pacific and obtaining the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. He retired from the Naval Reserve after twenty years in the Navy. In 1952 Gordon married Margaret Pedersen and became the step- father to Judith Johnston (now Crutcher.) The Pedersen's subsequently had two children, Dean, of Seattle, and Lynne, of Portland, Oregon. Gordon and Margaret celebrated fifty-seven years of devoted marriage. Margaret and all three children survive Gordon. Gordon had a varied career, initially working as a neon sign maker, carpenter, electrician and social worker for the State of Washington. Ultimately, he became a Certified Public Accountant and worked as an investigator of financial fraud for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, from which he retired at age sixty-two. In retirement Gordon indulged two great loves, the sea and boats. He and Margaret traveled widely, especially on cruise ships, and Gordon hand-built seven wooden boats from scratch, ranging from dinghies to sailboats. He was a member of the NW Danish Foundation, Swedish Cultural Center, Nordic Heritage Museum, and the Fleet Reserve Association. He was a loving and considerate husband, father and friend. He passed away August 25, 2009. A Full Military Graveside Service will be held on Aug. 28th, at 11:00 AM at Evergreen- Washelli Cemetery, Seattle, WA. A Memorial Service will follow at 1:30 PM at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church 7500 Greenwood Ave N., Seattle. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made to Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, 7500 Greenwood Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98103.