Justin Peterson laid to rest

PONTIAC - Capt. Justin Dale Peterson was remembered Monday for his jokes and humor, but also for his devotion to family, God and country.

Capt. Peterson was "a man's man" as early as 5 years old, his father, Dale, said in a memorial ceremony tinged with sentiment and humor at Marimont Community Church in Pontiac.

"Justin was plenty for any teacher to handle," he said to hundreds who gathered for the Marine officer's funeral. "And they should have earned hazardous duty pay."

Dale Peterson, a Baptist minister, also noted his son's faith amid the pain of loss. "There is another father whose son about the same age died so others might be set free," he said.

Capt. Peterson, 32, died Oct. 1 in a noncombat vehicle accident in Iraq's Al Anbar province.

He was a supply officer assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force from Twentynine Palms, Calif., and left for Iraq on April 12, just days after the birth of his daughter, Caitlin.

Monday's memorial service was interspersed with comments from family, friends and fellow Marines.

Included were remarks from Peterson's grandfather, also a Marine, who was the inspiration for Peterson's Marine career.

Fellow Marines spoke of a cigarsmoking officer wearing a kilt and flip-flops while off duty and of an offi cer who would engage the opposite point of view in conversations to expand their thinking.

Siblings spoke of the brother who was always happy to help family or friends.

Part of the service was a video of Peterson's life that highlighted the family he doted on: His wife, Patty, and children, Jared, 6, Jayden, 2, and Caitlin.

Capt. Peterson was born in Rochester and entered the reserves after graduating from Southfi eld Christian High School. He met his wife, Patty, in Sunday school at age 17.

After earning a business degree at Indiana's Taylor University, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1997. He and Patty married in 2004.

When Peterson was assigned to Iraq, Patty moved back to Michigan to stay with her parents.

Besides a wife, children, grandparents and father, Capt. Peterson also is survived by his mother, Ginna ; brothers Joshua, also a Marine, and Jordan; and sisters, Charity and Joy.

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group that seeks to guard funerals from protests, lined the entrance to the church holding American fl ags.

An Oakland County Sheriff's Offi ce motorcycle unit accompanied the funeral procession to the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly for committal with full military honors.



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Justin Peterson dies in vehicle accident