John W. Peterson, 84; Music Publisher Wrote 1,000 Gospel Hymns

John W. Peterson, 84, who wrote more than 1,000 gospel hymns in a musical career that began before World War II, died Sept. 20 of cancer at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Peterson’s compositions included “It Took a Miracle,” “Over the Sunset Mountains,” “So I Send You” and “Surely Goodness and Mercy.”

Peterson had headed his own music publishing businesses in Scottsdale since moving to Arizona in the 1970s. Earlier, he served for more than 10 years as president of Singspiration, a sacred-music publishing company in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Born Nov. 1, 1921, in Lindsborg, Kan., Peterson served as an Army Air Forces transport pilot in the war, flying a route between India and China over the Himalaya Mountains known as “The Hump.”

After leaving the service, he graduated from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and moved to Montrose, Pa., for a job as music director for Singspiration. He later led the organization before moving to Scottsdale and co-founding Good Life Productions and later his own John W. Peterson Music Co.

He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1986.