Eric Petersen

Eric Wendell Petersen, 61, of Brookston, MN, beloved father, son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend, passed away Friday, April 26, 2024, surrounded by family at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, after a brief illness.

He was born in St Paul, on September 28, 1962, to Lowell and Caroline Petersen. Eric grew up in Scandia and attended Forest Lake High School as part of the class of 1980. Eric was a skilled carpenter and entrepreneur running his own business building sheds. He loved spending time with his son Dane in his workshop. 

Eric was an avid outdoorsman who loved spending time at his cabin hunting and fishing. As a child, he briefly played hockey but at heart he was his mom’s “little Daniel Boone” and he never outgrew it. His early expeditions took him to Colorado and Texas before returning to Minnesota. He was a long-time resident of Chisago City and was well known in the community. He was also a member of the Chisago Rod & Gun Club and enjoyed trap shooting.

He loved making friends laugh and strangers smile. He was a great cook and could orchestrate a full Thanksgiving-type feast just for a weekend party with friends. As much as people knew hanging out with him could end in a night in jail or a killer hangover, he was the type of friend that people couldn’t wait to do it all over again with.

Unfortunately, Eric suffered a debilitating stroke in 2008. Despite his condition, he was a man who cherished his son and family and maintained lifelong friendships since childhood. The way he died is just like the way he lived: he wrote his own rules, he fought authority, and he paved his own way. And if you said he couldn’t do it, he would make sure he could.

Eric was preceded in death by his father, Lowell J Petersen Sr and mother, Caroline. He is survived by his son, Dane; former spouse, Pixie Benson; step-children, Jodi, Hannah and Janey; brother, Lowell Petersen; sister, Karrie Petersen; sister, Gretchen (Brent) Minikel; aunt, Kathy Chell; nieces, nephews, cousins and many great friends.

Our family would also like to thank his second family - Winter Homes and the staff - who took such great care of him over the past eight years. He will truly be missed.

Sorry, Mom, we did the best we could to take care of him and keep him out of your hair as long as we could. He’s back in your court now.

A Memorial Gathering will be held 4-7 PM, on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN 55025.