Travis J. Petersen
September 02, 1981 - August 05, 2013
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Travis J. Petersen
September 02, 1981 - August 05, 2013
Obituary
Travis J. Petersen, 1981-2013.
Travis John Petersen died Aug. 5, 2013 in an automobile accident. He married Royah Askar Petersen, and they have three children: Samantha, Maryam and Benjamin. He is the son of Jim and Barbara Petersen.
Born in Orange, Calif., on Sept. 2, 1981, Travis was the seventh of eight children – David, Bryan, Scott, Kristen, Sharon, Kevin, Travis, and Nicole. He graduated from Aliso Niguel High School and later served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Madrid, Spain. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from California State University, San Bernardino, and an MBA from the University of La Verne. After working in various management positions at UPS for over five years, he was currently working in logistics management for Kohl’s at a distribution center in San Bernardino.
For the first six years of his life his family lived in Westminster, and in 1987 they moved to Laguna Niguel. Travis was a very happy child. He shared a room with his brother Kevin and, for a time, with Kingston — their Dalmatian. The beat and break dancing associated with albums such as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” captivated Travis’s imagination from a very early age. He played soccer, and learned to skate backwards and in circles playing street hockey in front of his house. His favorite sport was volleyball, a pastime he played not only at an intercollegiate level but continued enjoying well into adulthood.
Royah and Travis met in Provo, Utah, while attending college. They moved back home to California. They married in the LDS San Diego temple in 2005. They were blessed with three beautiful children: Samantha Lynn, 6 years old; Maryam Belle, 4; and Benjamin Gavin, 18 months. Travis poured his heart and soul into fatherhood and it showed, as he was his children’s favorite person. He could often be seen lugging around his little ones in one arm like over-sized footballs. His signature activities with the children included backyard campouts on the trampoline, tickle attacks, making up stories at bedtime, and coaching the girls’ soccer teams. Travis lovingly dedicated himself to managing Maryam’s Type 1 juvenile diabetes around the clock, including 3 a.m. blood glucose checks each and every night.
In their first years together the young couple lived in places like Yucca Valley, San Bernardino and Rancho Cucamonga. During this time Travis encouraged Royah to pursue her education and accomplish her goals. From 2009-13 they owned a home in Hesperia. Their family had just moved to Redlands to be closer to his new job with Kohl’s.
He never met a cheesecake he didn’t like, and his favorite food was chicken alfredo. Despite his burgeoning career in corporate America, Travis also possessed an entrepreneurial streak: He successfully sold furniture and cleaned carpets, and dreamed of opening an indoor bounce house for children.
Travis was the kind of son any parent would love with unbounded pride. He was a loyal and generous husband. Through his children he leaves an indelible legacy of love and service. Travis will be missed beyond understanding by all who knew him, lived with him, loved him, cared for him, worshiped with him, and worked beside him. That shy smile will be forever in our hearts.
6 responses to Travis J. Petersen
Debbie Thomas says:
August 15, 2013
I had the pleasure of welcoming Travis to our Kohl’s family earlier this year. Although our time working together was too short, it was great to work with someone with such drive and spirit. Travis managed our Transportation department and was also responsible for some key projects for our distribution center. He worked hard and fast, thus earning the nickname from me of Travo (Travis+turbo). Travis was also selected as a mentor to our college interns this summer and was supportive of their development as future leaders in logistics. He was a kid at heart (he helped put together our company picnic and was 2nd place in our hot dog eating contest!) and will always be someone I admired for his passion when it came to his family and work. My sincere condolences to his children and family.
Debbie Thomas
Gillian Alleman says:
August 15, 2013
Travis was a wonderful friend to two of my children. He was such a sweet guy and always had their best interests at heart. He offered by example and advice, his friendship, and was kind and considerate. I offer my love and wishes of hope and peace to his beautiful little family and his parents and siblings.
Matt Logan says:
August 15, 2013
Travis… DUDE, I miss you! I remember when we played Water Polo together… Your school ALWAYS beat us, but there were some close ones! I loved hanging out with you… you were ALWAYS happy and always a cool guy… tons of friends and always hilarious! We would go to the beach together to surf and scope out the ladies with a bunch of friends at Salt Creek or wherever.
Oh dude, remember that time we pranked Cristina’s house by putting all those little flags in her yard? Oh man… we got caught by her dad and had to pull them all out and he was pissed! THAT was a fun night! Kevin was so freaked out! HAHA. Wait… were you there that night… or was that just with Keven and Brian Sutton? Either way, it was hilarious and you would be proud! 🙂
You and John Strianno taught me about leaving furniture on people’s lawns or tipping old wet mattresses against people’s front doors… HAHAHA Good Times!
Damn dude, it bums me out to no end that you are gone… AND how you went.
YOU were a good man, you had three beautiful little girls…
I miss you… I have cried thinking about this whole thing… this all just sucks. I wish I could have been there for you. I am sorry that I did not keep in touch with you since we all went to college/missions. LIFE is such an interesting trip… This makes me value mine even more.
I Live in Utah now, and I don’t have the money to come home to your funeral, I REALLY wish I could… to honor you, cry with our friends and REMEMBER the good times.
Good Bye Brother…
Thank you for growing up with me…
THANK YOU!
-Matt Logan
Betty L. Bogle says:
August 18, 2013
Lit a candle in memory of Travis J. Petersen
Imy says:
April 29, 2022