PETERFISH, Paul Wendell

The Camp Verde Bugle, Camp Verde, Arizona Saturday, November 15, 2008 Former Camp Verde resident Paul Wendell Petefish, 83, of Eddyville, Ill., died Nov. 7, 2008, at Pope County Care Center, Golconda, Ill. He was born on July 20, 1925, to Ivan and Ethel Petefish in rural Jacksonville, Ill. Wendell graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1942. He served with the U.S. Naval Merchant Marines on a Liberty ship and recalled being on the first American ship in the Netherlands after the Nazi occupation and having the Queen come down and greet the ship. After the war, he worked on the intracoastal canals out of New Orleans and eventually, returned to Illinois to farm and sell cars. Wendell owned Petefish Chevrolet in Waverly, Ill. In 1972, he moved to Arizona to pursue business interests. He married Doris Curtis in May 1949. She preceded him in death. In December 1981, Wendell married Julia Sims Crum. He was a member of the Golconda Rotary Club, McDowell Mountain Mounted Sheriff's Posse, U.S. Marshal's Posse, Verde Vaqueros, Scottsdale, Hash Knife Pony Express, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Scottsdale. Surviving are his wife, Julia; five children, Tracy Petefish, Scottsdale, Chris Celetetic, Louisville, Ky., Julie (Kirk) Little, Tuscola, Ill., Johanna (Cory) Thomas, Albert Lea, Minn., and Brian Crum; one sister, Betty (Richard) Adams, Oregon, Ill.; and seven grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Nov. 9 at the Eddyville Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.