On January 26, 2021, the Lord Jesus called home the mighty Woman of God, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Reina Peterson. She is now part of the great cloud of witnesses that encourages her retired marine husband of 47 years Pete, her six children, Nancy (Bob), Eric (Diann), Patsy (Steve), Karen (Lloyd), Matthew and Faith (Jason), her 13 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren (with one on the way), to live for Christ and finish well.
She was born Reina Matilda Garcia in Vieques, Puerto Rico on March 14, 1939. She came to the United States for the first time as a teenager. She worked for many years in civil service. She met her beloved Marine, Pete, in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina and the two were married on December 21, 1973. Her passion ran deep for the military and she would often say, after losing her legs, that whenever she would start to feel sorry for herself, she would remember Christ’s crucifixion and the wounded soldiers.
When her family was asked to give adjectives to describe their mighty matriarch, a common thread was not surprisingly revealed. The woman whose sight was failing and health declining, never lost her passion for the Word of God, maintaining an infectious smile and regardless of what she faced each day she was always “GREAT!” Followed by “HE LOVES ME! JESUS LOVES ME!”
So, it is with temporary sorrow that those who are left behind are greatly missing the feisty, best banana pancake maker, strong, generous, unstoppable, sassy, loving, graceful, radiant, clever, sweet, charming, loving warrior, and best PR Mom ever. But we will look forward to a glorious reunion, after we, who knew and loved her, attempt to follow her persevering example of a life lived fiercely well.
There will be a private family burial at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. Reina loved her church home Calvary Baptist, and she and Pete asked that in lieu of flowers that you would bless Calvary Baptist Church (4451 10th Ave. Leavenworth, KS 66048).