Robert N. Petersen

Robert N. Petersen obituary, Somerset, NJ

Robert N. Petersen

Robert Petersen Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Gleason Funeral Home of Somerset on Dec. 17, 2025.
Robert N. Petersen, of Somerset, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, December 14th, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. He was 56 years old.
Born in Elizabeth and raised in Clark, Robert had lived in Somerset since 1998. He was Vice President of Product Development for Tingley Rubber Corporation in Piscataway.
Robert was a graduate of Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, where he served as captain of the soccer team. He went on to graduate from Rutgers University, earning both a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA.
A man deeply devoted to his faith, Robert attended Calvary Chapel in Old Bridge. He was actively involved in his community, serving as President of the Cedar Grove Cemetery Association, Secretary of the Franklin Township Republican Municipal Committee, a member of the Elks Lodge in Bridgewater, a soccer coach, a volunteer with Elijah's Promise, and a trainer with the K-9 Leaders Seeing Eye Puppy Club.
Above all else, Robert loved his wife, children, and extended family dearly. He was devoted to God and found joy in cooking and sharing food with others, caring for his Seeing Eye puppies, gardening, and spending time cruising with his wife in his vintage Miata.
He was predeceased by his father, Robert Petersen, in 1989.
Surviving are his wife of 27 years, Michele (Cortese) Petersen; his sons, David Petersen (Kaitlyn Hartsell) of Cassopolis, Michigan, and John Petersen of Somerset; his daughter and son-in-law, Samantha Petersen and Jordan Salerno of Lansdale, Pennsylvania; his mother, Rosemary Petersen of Clark; his brothers, James Petersen of South Plainfield and David Petersen of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and his sisters, Debra Petersen of Manalapan, Virginia DeWitt of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Andrea Lazarus of Manalapan.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 20th, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Gleason Funeral Home, 1360 Hamilton Street, Somerset. Cremation will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Seeing Eye. https://seeingeye.donorsupport.co/-/NDBYEYLP

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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1 Entry

Davi Gerald Palladino-Sinclair

December 17, 2025

So sorry and sad to hear of the loss of this friend - a devoted husband, father, son, brother and patriot.

Condolences to his family - all who knew and loved Rob share your grief. He had so much more to do, and we will all miss doing those things with him for what we thought would be years to come.

A man is never really gone so long as he is remembered and honored.

For Rob Petersen the Dane:
Cattle die, and kinsmen die,
And so one dies one's self;
But a noble name will never die. . . "

He is in a far better place than this Vale of Tears - he believed in Jesus and has his place in the Kingdom of Heaven.

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Gleason Funeral Home of Somerset

1360 Hamilton St., Somerset, NJ 08873

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