Niels Petersen

Niels Petersen A Quiet Hero In the early morning of July 2nd, our community lost a great man. Niels E. Petersen, 85, died Saturday following several years of illness that he shouldered with the kind of quiet dignity that exemplified his life. Born in Hellerup, Denmark, Petersen's early sense of independence and adventure saw him join the merchant marine at the age of 18, sailing to exotic ports in the Indian Subcontinent and Asia. While visiting home during the early days of WWII, Hitler's Germany invaded Denmark. Outraged, and without regard for his own safety, he joined the Danish Resistance - an experience he would rarely discuss. His leadership skills and cool-headedness, coupled with an uncommon sense of daring, saw him become an admired - and much hunted - partisan leader. His valiant struggle against the Nazi oppressor, a fight that saw many friends and a brother killed in action, would result in his being decorated by order of Denmark's Queen Margrethe II with the Danish Freedom Fighter Medal in 1996. Following the war, Petersen became a journeyman-painting contractor and he moved to the United States with his lifelong best-friend Kay Larsen. It was in America that he was reunited with his childhood sweetheart Lilian Hansen. Married in 1955, they became inseparable and spent the following 50 years setting an example on what partnership and love truly means. Within two years of arriving in his adopted country, he had built a successful painting company. His enterprise and industry ensured that his family lived well and had the opportunities of college and successful careers. After retiring from his full-time business in Northern Virginia, the Petersens moved to Vero Beach in 1978, setting a trend that would be followed by many friends and family who would soon join them. He was an excellent sport fisherman; an avid blue-water sailor; an above-average sports car racer; and near-dangerous with tools of any kind. More importantly, he was a trusted friend, with sound and compassionate counsel; a strong and exemplary father, ever concerned for his children's well-being; and, a supremely devoted and loving husband. He was a Dane by birth and an American by choice, and he will be missed by everyone privileged to have known him. Along with his wife Lilian, he is survived by his daughter Birgitte and sons John Jensen, and Kim and Alan Petersen, along with brothers Thue and Mogens Petersen, and six grandchildren. His daughter June Petersen was lost to cancer in 1995. A private remembrance to celebrate his life is being planned by the family.