Russell B. Peterson
It was with deep sorrow and fond memories that we mourned the
passing of Russ Peterson, the first President of Our Brothers’ Keepers of Southern Ilinois.
All of us were caught off guard by his untimely death on March 20, 2015, and we now realize how much we were depending on his leadership and energy. All the fellow Directors are committed to seeing that his dream of “reentry homes for returning citizens” is achieved as a result of the rock like foundation he layed before us.
Russell was the leader who would always be thinking “out of the box” so that we would leap foward and not get bogged down in the small stuff. Surely a gift that was evident in his many year working with the Dominican community, Diocese of Belleville and as the Faith Formation director at Immaculate Conception Parish in Columbia, Illinois. Russell was always giving of himself for anyone in need and gave a final gift upon his death. He donated his organs so that others will now have healing in their lives. Our prayers express the sincere sorrow for his loss with the hope and trust that God will allow us to continue this journey in the spirit that only Russ could bring out in each of us.
“O Risen Lord,grant that we may be inwardly renewed, dying to ourselves in order that you may live in us. May our lives serve as signs of the transforming power of your love.”