Niels Verner Pedersen

1929 - 2023

Niels Verner Pedersen passed away on Sunday, April 30, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Niels was born December 30, 1929. He spent his early years in Nordenskov, Ribe, Denmark on the family farm. He moved to the United States in the 1950s and quickly became a U.S. citizen. He was a resident of Palatine, Illinois for more than 60 years. Niels maintained a connection to his Danish roots through the Scandinavian Club, volunteering at The Danish Home, board member for The Clearing Folk School, and involvement in the Royal Danish Guard Society. He is preceded in death by parents Anders and Kirstine Pedersen, stepmother Nanna Runge Pedersen, siblings Via Norrelund Jessen and Vagn Runge Pedersen, and his loving wife of 38 years, Anna Kathryn "Kay" Pedersen. Niels is survived by his children James (Sheryl) Crook, Susan (Bud) Mukahirn, Jeanette Patton and Joanne (Martin Johnson) Ripp, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; siblings Torben hojmose Pedersen, Birgit Runge Hansen, Holger hojmose Pedersen and Ragnhild hojmose Albertsen. Niels is also survived by his devoted partner Betty Petersen and her family. In addition to careers at K&P Construction and Otto Damgaard Landscaping Contractors, Niels enjoyed wood carving, skeet shooting and photography.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023 at Palm Court Restaurant in Arlington Heights 11:00am - 2:00pm. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Lauterburg-Oehler Funeral Home, Arlington Heights, IL. Inurnment at Graceland Cemetery will be held privately this summer. For those who wish, a gift in his memory may be made to The Danish Home of Chicago, 5656 N. Newcastle Ave.,Chicago, IL 60631. All honor to his memory as a dad, grandpa, mentor and friend.