Brian John Petterson was born on January 8, 1960, at the hospital in Gaylord, MN. He passed away peacefully on December 14, 2024, at the age of 64, surrounded by family at the Mankato hospital.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2024 at Bernadotte Lutheran Church in rural Lafayette. Pastor Bruce Bringle will officiate. Burial will follow in the Bernadotte Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 9:30-11 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2024 at Bernadotte Lutheran Church in rural Lafayette.

To watch the live-stream on Brian's memorial service on Monday, click: WATCH LIVESTREAM

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Harry Meyering Center, 109 Homestead Rd, Mankato, MN 56001.

The third child of DeLores and Gerald Jr. Petterson, Brian was born with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia. Despite facing numerous challenges, including surgeries at Gillette Hospital and intensive physical therapy during his early years, Brian approached life with unwavering determination and a joyful spirit.

Brian was baptized and confirmed at Bernadotte Lutheran Church. He graduated from Winthrop High School in 1981, where he was an honorary member of the FFA and the wrestling team. At age 23, he moved to North Mankato and lived in homes dedicated to adults with special needs, including Theresa K. Sexton, Living Links, and the Harry Meyering Center.

Growing up on the family farm, Brian developed a lifelong love for tractors, hayrides, lawn mowers, four-wheelers, and harvest time. He cherished riding along with his dad and neighbors, especially the Langhorst crew. His infectious giggle brightened every room and was often triggered by loud noises like balloons popping or dishes breaking.

Brian lived life to the fullest. He attended wedding dances, polka fests, band concerts, church picnics, parades, and the annual Lafayette Firemen's Corn Feed. Just last week, he attended the Harry Meyering Christmas Party with John, Gretchen, Sam, Sherry, and Shawn, enjoying great food, music, and—unbeknownst to anyone—his final dance. This memory will be forever cherished.

Brian's personality left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He had an extraordinary memory for names and faces and treasured the friendships he built with caregivers, nurses, neighbors, church family, and staff members—many of whom he affectionately referred to as his "favorite girls" (you know who you are!).

With his exceptional hearing, Brian often joked about the conversations he overheard. He would tell Duane and Sherryl, "I have something to tell you," and when asked how he knew, he'd lean in and whisper, "I hear things!"

Brian shared a special bond with his brother Duane, affectionately calling each other "Turkey" and "Bozo." Their nicknames reflected a humor-filled and enduring relationship.

Throughout his life, Brian embraced every opportunity to participate. He competed in Special Olympics, played softball with the Miracle League, and always looked forward to wedding dances, church picnics, and parades. Fourth of July celebrations were a highlight, especially riding in the Albert Lea parade with Duane on the Albert Lea Technical College float, proudly tossing candy to the crowd before relaxing in Duane and Sherryl's backyard to watch skydivers.

A bit of an adrenaline enthusiast, Brian loved watching his brother and dad water ski and most recently enjoyed trips to the Waseca airport to see his nephew Jason perform tandem skydives. He also marveled at John's powered paraglider flights, always fascinated by their graceful descents.

In 2021, Brian transitioned from a manual wheelchair, which had kept him strong for many years, to a motorized one. A proud Green Bay Packers fan, he chose Packers green and gold for the wheelchair and even had his room painted to match—much to the dismay of Vikings fans!

Brian was a devoted fan of the Twins and Packers and delighted in collecting team memorabilia, caps, and clothing. His home office was his sanctuary, filled with the latest technology, his trusty can crusher (which saw many improvements and fixes over the years), and a heavy-duty paper shredder that he spent countless hours using to help anyone in need of shredded paper. John even collected paper from businesses just so Brian could shred it!

Brian stayed connected with Duane and John through Skype, watching them work on the farm and join in their projects and shenanigans. His love for music grew stronger with Alexa, which he used to play his favorite polka and country tunes.

Brian's resilient spirit carried him through the loss of loved ones, including his grandparents; parents, DeLores and Gerald Jr.; his sister Denise; his nephew Nathan; his niece Sara; his brother-in-law Tim Woods; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

He is survived by his brother Duane (Sherryl) Petterson; nieces and nephews: Sherry (Shawn) Eggum, John (Gretchen) Petterson, and Jason (Kristen) Petterson; great-nieces and nephews: Cherise Petterson, Kylie (Cody) Schwering, Haley (Nathan) Meyer, Kade (Becca) Eggum, Rylee Petterson, Payton Petterson, and Tyler Petterson; step-great-nieces and nephews: Anyssa (Adam) Clark, Alaynna Chavez, Matias Chavez, Gabe Chavez, and Sam Chavez; great-great-niece Kollyns Schwering; step-great-great-nephews Ryker Clark, Asher Clark, and Sawyer Clark; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, caregivers, and extended family who were blessed to know him.

Brian was a gift to his family and all who knew him. His laughter, determination, and zest for life will never be forgotten. As we lay him to rest, we find comfort knowing he is finally free of his physical limitations here on earth. There is joy in knowing he is now reunited with his family in heaven, where he can walk, run and dance in his eternal home.

The Petterson family would like to thank the countless caregivers, teachers, MRCI staff, medical teams, and current staff who supported Brian over the years. Your care and dedication made a profound difference in his life, just as he did in ours. Only God knows the names of every person who impacted Brian's life, and we are forever grateful for you.