Peter J Linnerooth

Mankato Mortuary
1001 N. Riverfront Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
507-388-2202

Peter John Nathanial Linnerooth, age 42, of Mankato, died Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at his home. Peter will be laid to rest with full military honors on Monday, January 14th, at 11:00 a.m. at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Peter was born June 28, 1970 in Minneapolis and was adopted by David and Gayle (McMullen) Linnerooth. Peter attended John Marshall High School in Rochester, Minnesota and graduated in 1988. He graduated from Concordia College in 1992 with a Bachelors of Art and from Mankato State University, Mankato in 1995 with a Masters of Art in Psychology. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Nevada, Reno in 2004. He was married to Amy (Robinson) Linnerooth in 1992 in Rochester, Minnesota and later divorced. He married Melanie Walsh on July 14, 2011 in Reno, Nevada.

Peter began active duty as an Army psychologist at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas from 2003 to 2004. He was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany and from there was deployed to Iraq in August 2006 until November 2007, where he served as a psychologist. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 2008 with the rank of Captain, after starting his military career in 2002. He worked at Mankato State University, Mankato as an assistant professor from 2008 to 2009 before taking a position with the Veterans Administration in Capitola, California in 2009. Pete was a loving, devoted father to his children and step-children. He was also a dedicated psychologist helping the soldiers and veterans that he served. Peter was honored to receive the Bronze Star, Army Commendation, Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 stars, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal II, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was known for his sense of humor and good conversation and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Peter is survived by his wife Melanie Walsh of Reno, Nevada, three children, Jack and Whitney Linnerooth, and David Walsh-Linnerooth, step-children Dan and Katie Walsh, sister Mary (Jose) Linnerooth, and mother Gayle (Ed) McMullen. He was preceded in death by his father.