Gene Royal Petersen

In the midst of World War II, Gene Royal Petersen was born August 6, 1944, in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the eldest child to deaf parents, Eugene Waldo Petersen and Filomena “Phyllis” Granieri. Gene (80) died at his casita in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 21, 2025. His heart played a significant factor throughout his life as it did his death.

Gene grew up with four siblings and a neighborhood of kids with whom he built forts and climbed trees. He enjoyed being an honorary Pettey Boy throughout his young life, being loved by their mother as her own. Their family’s influence in his life had eternal consequences for Gene and his family as the Pettey Boys took him to Primary with them. From there, his testimony of the gospel blossomed. He cherished the set of scriptures his parents gave him when he was 12. Gene left home at age 18 as he headed to the Army’s boot camp with Van Pettey. He was called to be a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden where he faithfully served nearly two and a half years. His mother died three years after his return.

At Olympus High School, Gene participated in the Model United Nations. After graduation, he attended the University of Utah and would proudly sing-song to anyone who asked, “I am a Utah man, sir!” He continued to pursue his educational goals by completing his dissertation on DNA at Northwestern University. He also pursued a cute blonde with a beehive hairdo named Suzanne Schriever.

Gene and Sue were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple in June 1972. After multiple miscarriages, they were blessed with their premature daughter Jeanette who was born in June 1973. They adopted Megan in 1976 as they finished up at Northwestern before moving to California where Gene pursued his postdoc at Caltech in Pasadena. In 1980, they purchased their first home in Pomona where they raised the girls. In 1985, as Sue laid her head on Gene’s chest, she heard a gush in his heart. By 1986, his heart valve was replaced. When that natural valve gave out, he opted for a mechanical one which lasted for decades. From then on, in quiet rooms, he sounded like a ticking bomb. The best part of that consistent clicking noise for him, however, was being able to put crying babies to sleep with their heads on his chest.

Gene served his family as a caretaker as Sue and Jeanette’s health required. He learned to trust in the Lord that what needed to happen would happen. He became a widower after Sue’s passing in 2007. He helped raise his grandson, Ethan, and enjoyed having a little buddy to teach the principles of work and the gospel to in his later years. He was always a devoted father who worked ceaselessly to provide for his family. Loving the sunrise, he was often found puttering around the house before he got ready for work. Many days, there were baked goods or recipes he’d concoct based on his understanding of chemistry.

In 2010, he noticed a woman, visiting with her daughter at church, who had the brightest smile he’d seen in a long time. He and Lucinda Nieman-Gatie courted and were eventually sealed in May 2011 in the Salt Lake City Temple. His heart grew as his family more than doubled in size with her three girls and their large families. He was proudest of all his children and grandchildren as they made the most of their own lives through education, marriage, parenthood and just by being good human beings!

Gene was a hard worker throughout his life. His first job was mowing lawns in the neighborhood. He also delivered flowers and worked at the Kennecott Copper Mine while in college. His hardest job was thinning sugar beets. He worked for Jet Propulsion Labs (JPL) in Pasadena and then the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. He retired in 2014. Although he never sought the limelight, he received recognition during his career and knew his efforts to better JPL, NREL, and the Department of Energy (DOE) were successful.

Gene loved to serve others! At church, he fulfilled many callings at the ward and stake level. He was in bishoprics for at least two decades of his life. He loved serving in the young men’s organization, camping and inviting young men to make more of themselves through the skills learned in scouting. He spoiled his early-morning seminary classes with baked goods and spiritual lessons based in scriptural doctrine. After his retirement, he was invested in the Centennial High School sports teams in Las Vegas. There, he was known as Grandpa Gene by the cheerleaders, at the concessions counter or selling t-shirts, and at victory celebrations and school dances. He cheered on the football, basketball, and volleyball teams routinely and those in the stands knew him, too!

He didn’t sit still, and when he did, it was to enjoy a muted game on tv while also doing something else. Usually, after his Saturday chores, he’d sit down to polish his shoes while watching the Dodgers, Angels, or Colorado Rockies play. He also enjoyed following NFL games and college tournaments. He especially cheered while watching his grandsons play in televised matches! He enjoyed being outdoors, camping, fishing, hiking, biking, and playing basketball as his health and knees allowed. He often shared his warm, quiet sense of humor or wisdom that inspired younger generations. With a twinkle in his eye, he’d dance around with a broomstick during Saturday chores like a chimney sweep from Mary Poppins. Gene enjoyed simple pleasures in life like breakfasts of any sort, hugs from his girls and grandchildren, reading, Birkenstock shoes, and those “Aha!” moments for young learners.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother Alice Inez Williford Crutchfield, Suzanne and her parents and siblings, and his brother-in-law John White. He is survived by his siblings Shauna (Ed Saddler), Lorraine White, Gary (Linda), Blaine (Becky) and their families; wife, Cindee; his daughters Brandy (Tim Smith), Benja (Jonathan Calley), Jeanette Chartrand, Buffy (Brian Kraft), and Megan (Spencer Hall); his grandchildren The K’s: Kakela (Tanner Nelson), Kennedy (Aaron Willis), Kelsea (Walker Sheppard), and Kohlman Smith; The B’s: Braquelle (Tyler Thomas), Broderick, Brayton, and Bodee Calley; Ethan Chartrand (Sadie); The P’s: Priscilla (Justin Anderson), Preston (Sidney), Presley, Phoenix, Pearl, and Porter Kraft; Thomas, Katherine, and Daniel Hall; and 7 great-grandchildren: Tucker, Nellie, Scarlett, Tillie, Jace, Zeppelin, and Teddy.

The viewing (8:45--9:45 a.m.) and funeral (10:00--11:15 a.m.) of Dr. Gene R. Petersen will be held Friday, May 9, 2025, at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful, UT, 84010. Interment (11:45 a.m--12:30 p.m.) will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery (2224 South 200 West).

Funeral Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to services and will be posted below.