Homer Pederson passed away October 27, 2025 in Topeka after 97 years of committed servitude to faith, family, community and country. Homer was born on the same parallel where he went to school, farmed, and raised his family, all within 5 miles.

Homer was born the youngest son of Gustav and Caroline Pederson on September 23, 1928, at their home in rural Huron. He was sent to school at age four when his mother deemed, he had too much energy to wait another year. He fondly told stories of walking to school along the railroad tracks to the one-room Monterey School with a north window to provide light. He loved playing for his school basketball team alongside his brother Charles, and graduated from Huron High School in 1945, the only male in a class of five.

He was active in 4-H and showed his Angus steers at the Tri-County Fair, St. Joseph and the American Royal in Kansas City. He treasured joining up with other local young men to play town team basketball in numerous YMCAs and city gymnasiums. He was a very intentional listener and a corresponder. His friends and relatives were blessed with his stories and Homer was famous for sending birthday cards each year to many. He loved reading the Horton and Cole Camp newspapers to keep up with all things from sports to news. His welcoming nature could elicit a warm conversation from someone he knew for decades or only moments. Every place Homer went he would bump into someone he knew and if he didn't know them, he could find a commonality and familiar name sake or person, whom both knew. He seemed to live the phrase, "You are only one person away from knowing everyone."

Homer grew up on the family farm with horse teams and saw those replaced with tractors. He never apologized for not wanting to own any more horses. Homer stayed home with Gustav to work side by side until Gus's passing, on the family farm.

Homer enlisted in the National Guard as a PVI in 1948. He was promoted fast to the rank of SGT and eventually took his commission in 1951 C Charlie Battery 154 Field Artillery. In 1956 he married Juanita Bahrenburg from Cole Camp, Missouri. Juanita had come to Northeast Kansas as a single teacher and she and Homer began a 56-year union that produced a family of five children at their rural Everest farm. As a Staff Officer CPT S2, he answered the call order to Active Duty with the 69th Bde deployment 13 May 1968.

Juanita and the kids joined Homer at Fort Carson in the fall of 1968 where the children attended school before he received his individual orders to South Vietnam in 1969. He was promoted to Field Grade Major and S3 of 8-inch 5-22 Field Artillery. Major Pederson retired from the Guard 23 Apr 1970 and returned to full time farming once again. Homer served one more tour as full time training NCO at SVC Btry, 2-130 FA Troy Kansas from 1983 - 1988. In addition to serving the State and the Country, Homer never ran out of opportunities to work and volunteer his talents. He farmed for decades while Juanita was either teaching or home with the children. His love of farming, the weather, and any topics farm-related connected him to his neighbors and the Northeast Kansas area like a bumper crop shelled into the bin. Homer was an insurance crop adjuster, school bus driver, church maintenance man, and all-around volunteer wherever needed.

Homer was never afforded the time or opportunity to attend his favorite school, Kansas State University, but he followed the Wildcats closely from the final runs of the 1950's to the most recent years of Wildcat Championships in football and basketball. The Pedersons were KSU football ticket holders for over 20 years where family and friends would gather for reunions on autumn Saturdays. Proving Homer's love of K-State and commitment to education, the Pederson immediate families from Juanita to grandchildren hold ten bachelor's degrees and four master's degrees from KSU.

In addition to service to State and Country, Homer never ran out of opportunities to extend his servitude and gifts. He served for many years as a club leader for the Everest 4-Leaf Clover 4-H Club. Homer was active in the Everest Lions Club, American Legion Post 415, a Church Council Leader, and sang in the choir at Zion Lutheran Church.

Homer is survived by Juanelle (Mike) Garretson, of Salina, Kirk (Deneen) Pederson of Tonganoxie, Rick (Susan) Pederson of Aubrey, Tx, Rich Menear, Carlita Pederson's widower, of Topeka, Paul (Jennifer) Pederson of Bentonville, AR. Grandchildren: Shannon (Jay) Abrams, Matt Garretson, Taylor (Nick) Hartzell, Camden Garretson, Brooks Garretson; Adam (Leah) Muldoon, Justin (Courtney) Muldoon, Sean (Karlie Haskins) Muldoon, Patrick (Cydney)Muldoon; Jacob (Christina Beat) Pederson, Jessica (Reymond Rumbaut) Pederson, Mary (Jordan) Stein, Joshua Pederson, and Rachel Pederson; thirteen greatgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Homer was preceded in death by his wife Juanita in 2012 and his daughter Carlita Pederson in 2023 and siblings Charles Pederson and Ruth Irene Torkleson. After the passing of Juanita, Homer lived on the farm until 2021. The family is truly grateful to the multitudes of people who checked in on Homer, mailed cards, and made countless phone calls to soothe Homer's need to stay connected with his community.

The family will receive visitors on Friday evening, November 7 from 4 pm to 6:00 pm at the Zion Lutheran Church in Everest, Kansas. The funeral service will be at Zion Lutheran Church, 1521 Prairie Road, Everest on Saturday, November 8 at 10:30 with military honors burial immediately following the service.