Christian Peter Pedersen; Retired Mechanic

Christian Peter Pedersen, a retired mechanic and former commander of an American Legion post in San Fernando, has died in Sepulveda. He was 82.

A longtime resident of San Fernando, Pedersen died Wednesday of bone cancer, said his wife, Madelle.

Born Nov. 24, 1907, in Hallund, Denmark, Pedersen came to the United States in 1930. During World War II, he served for two years in the U.S. Navy and later served 20 years in the Naval Reserve, retiring with the rank of chief.

He worked for many years as a mechanic at Wes McComb’s Garage in San Fernando and retired from the California State Division of Highways in 1972.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Pedersen served three times as commander of San Fernando American Legion Post 176. He was president of the Danish Brotherhood in America’s Los Angeles chapter in the late 1970s and later served as president of its California-Nevada division. Pedersen was also a member of the Legion Post’s Forty and Eight Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3834 in San Fernando, the Naver Club of Los Angeles and the Danish Soldiers Club of Los Angeles.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years; sons, Norman of Granada Hills and Richard of Eagle Grove, Iowa; sister, Marie Christiansen of East Lanham, Md.; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Noble Chapel, 1231 1st St. in San Fernando, which is handling the arrangements. A funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at the Chapel of the Oaks at Eternal Valley Mortuary, 23287 N. Sierra Highway in Newhall, with burial to follow at Eternal Valley Memorial Park. Contributions can be made in Pedersen’s name to a charity of the donor’s choice.