Peter Carl Hedstrom, was born on February 18, 1950, in Madison, MN, to Earl and Margaret Hedstrom. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1968 and Bemidji State University in 1972, after which he taught school and coached football in Rushford for a year.
On November 24, 1973, he married D.J. (Donna Jo Peterson). They moved to Springfield June of 1974 when they joined the Advance-Press staff. Shortly thereafter, he became "The Man About Town."
Peter and DJ were named the newspaper's publishers in 1985.
Throughout his 44-year career in Springfield he wore many hats. As an ad man, he would bring the ads to the composition staff and say, "make it nice." As the sports editor, he rarely missed a game. Always wanting more sport pages then allotted (most of the time getting his way), Peter would turn in his photos and (always hand written) sports stories to the A-P team with another "make it nice." Even when acting as the delivery or errand boy he did it with a smile and twinkle in his blue, blue eyes.
Within the community he committed his time as a volunteer football coach season after season, enjoying every minute of it - especially when a state tournament was part of the season.
Peter loved being a coach and working with the kids. As the high school golf coach, his favorite victory was taking the team to the state tournament and bringing home the championship. He wore his championship rings proudly and treasured them.
Peter loved. He loved his girls, D.J. and Martha. He loved his family, and he loved his friends. He loved his work and loved playing golf. And he loved the community of Springfield.
He was preceded in death by his father, Earl Hedstrom; and survived by his wife, D.J., daughter, Martha; his mother, Margaret; siblings, Mary Weierke, Paul (Jodi), Robert (Barb), Randy (Mona), Ben, and Tiffany, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sheldon and Marty (Peterson) Diller.
On August 16, 2018, Peter died at his northern Minnesota lake home after a four-year battle with Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia and Alzheimer's.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be given to Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131; or Lewy Body Dementia Association, www.LBDA.org; or Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011, tel: 800-272-3900, www.alz.org.
A memorial service for Peter will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 24, at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Springfield with visitation an hour prior to the service.