Mark F. Peterson

Mankato Mortuary

1001 North Riverfront

Mankato, Minnesota 56001

507-388-2202

Mark “Doc” Peterson, 67, of Mankato, after a valiant 5-year-battle with cancer, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by all of his girls on Thursday, May 21, 2020.  

A Celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Mark was born on August 18, 1952 in St. Paul to Ned and Marion (Nadeau) Peterson. He attended Johnson High School, where he played high school hockey graduating in 1970. He went on to the University of  Wisconsin at River Falls where he played college hockey and graduated in 1974. 

He met his wife, Eileen in the operating room at St. Paul Ramsey Hospital (Regions) where he was an Orderly and Eileen was a Student Nurse. They went on their first date on August 21, 1972 to the hospital picnic. From that moment on they were inseparable. They were engaged on August 21, 1973 and married on March 15, 1974. He followed his passion to Physician Assistant training at Northeastern University in Boston graduating in 1976. Then he and Eileen moved to Owatonna, MN, where he practiced as a P.A. for 6 years. During this time, he also enlisted in the US Army Reserve. Continuing an ambitious medical education trajectory, he graduated from medical school at the University of Minnesota in 1984, followed by his residency at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He started his OB/GYN practice in Cambridge, MN in 1988. Then in 1991, he and his family moved to Mankato, MN where he joined the Mankato Clinic. He continued a successful practice in Mankato, loving his job and adoring his patients. Then due to his health, Mark took an early retirement in 2016. 

Mark and Eileen had four beautiful daughters that he adored. For Mark, family came first. He was fiercely loyal, and would do anything for you and would pick up the phone anytime night or day to give advice or help someone in need. He gained three wonderful sons through the marriages of three of his daughters. They blessed him with ten grandchildren who became his world.  

Mark had many passions in life. He enjoyed playing and watching hockey his whole life. He learned the game of golf from his father-in-law, James Madden. The game of golf became his Thursday passion where he gained lasting friendships. Mark had the most wonderful friends who were like family to him. He could often be found at his local favorite Charley’s. He loved to travel with his wife and daughters. For the last 25 years Mark and Eileen have celebrated their anniversary in Hawaii and consider it their second home.  

Mark is survived by his wife of 46 years, Eileen; daughters, Patsy (Graham) King, Amy (Nick) Otto, Molly (Nick) Burger and Allison; grandchildren, Sean, Isaac, Andrew, Benjamin, Braeden, Emma, Charlie, Rylan, Keegan and Brielle; his special pup, Jaspers; siblings, Sharon (Phil) Potter, Mary Burfeind, Linda (Charlie) Peterson, Judy (Mike) Hagel, Kenny (Pam) Peterson, and Carol (Dave) Thomalla; and several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Charlie; nephew, Brad; special friends, Charley Sadaka, Gordy Lingbeck, Bill Peters and Myrl Barnes.