Loading...The Rev. Mainert Jordon Peterson, 92, died Thursday, May 20, at the Episcopal Church Home in Louisville. He was rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Louisville from 1969 until his retirement in 1982,
Before coming to Louisville, Peterson served for 20 years in Mexico and Central America. His obituary, published in The Courier Journal, reported that he was called in 1949 to serve as the rector of Christ Church By-The-Sea and superintendent of Christ Church Academy in Colon, Republic of Panama. In 1954, he became archdeacon of Colon, where he served until he became the dean of St. Luke's Cathedral in 1956 in Ancon, Canal Zone.
He and his wife, Virginia, served various missions in Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico and Jamaica during these years, and they were the principal characters in the motion picture, "Challenge in the Sun," one of the church's pictures detailing the extent of the Episcopal Church missions in Central America. In 2003, St. Mark's Church held a special celebration honoring their 60 years of ministry together. [The couple were college sweethearts, both graduates of Trenton State Teachers College in New Jersey. While he attended General Theological Seminary, she worked on a master's degree in religious studies at Columbia University. They were married in 1943 the day after he was ordained to the priesthood.]
As in Central America, Mainert's ministry extended beyond the walls of his church. After tornadoes struck Louisville in 1974, he established a center of assistance at St. Mark's Church that eventually became United Crescent Hill Ministry, one of the largest social service ministries in Louisville, according to his obituary in The Courier Journal newspaper.
He served on the committee helped found the Episcopal Church Home and he assisted in the groundbreaking and building of St. Luke's Chapel there. And he had also served the Diocese of Kentucky in many capacities: as a member of the executive council, chairman of the Department of Finance, chairman of the Department of Stewardship and Evangelism, member of the Standing Committee and chairman of the Department of Missions. He also assisted in the Cursillo program.
Survivors include two sons, Mainert Jordan Peterson Jr. (Carol Lynn) and Charles Henry Peterson (Jenny), and two daughters, Virginia P. Johnson and Christina P. James (Tom). He is also survived by 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday May 29, followed by a 4 p.m. service, at St. Luke's Chapel, 7504 Westport Rd. A reception to follow. Pearson's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial gifts may be made to St. Luke's Chapel Fund of the Episcopal Church Home.
