The family of Kaj Herbert Petersen announces his sudden death on Sept. 13, in Weston, Florida. Kaj was the eldest of three children born to Karen Lockhart Petersen and Kaj Svend Petersen, now deceased, both born in the Virgin Islands. Kaj was born and grew up on St. Thomas where he attended Sts. Peter and Paul School. Kaj completed high school at Peekskill Military Academy in New York and graduated from Bryant College in Providence, Rhode Island, where he majored in business administration. It was during his years at Bryant College that he met and married a fellow student, Joanne Nettle Joyner Petersen, his bride of 48 years, with whom he had two daughters, Tricia and Karen Petersen.
All three remained the loves of his life until his untimely death in Weston, Florida, where he, Joanne and Karen had recently moved from St. Thomas. Joanne and Kaj were a team and where you saw one you generally saw the other.

As a child, Kaj was gregarious and engaging with all whom he came into contact. He made friends easily and was a favorite among younger cousins for his wit and the fun activities he came up with. He was the eldest of 12 first cousins, whose families held weekly picnics at his mother’s house in the country and at Coki Point with extended family and friends. He led many games and set the pace, but always looked out for the younger set. He was somewhat bossy and felt he was meant to be in charge. One of his greatest gifts was laughing at himself and sharing comments that made everyone laugh. He could be counted on to see the humor when things were rough.
Kaj had a gift for home repairs and was happy tinkering with improvements. There was almost nothing he could not fix. In this regard, he took after his dad with whom he shared this talent.
Throughout his life, Kaj sold personal insurance. He enjoyed the face to face contact with people that is inherent in selling insurance. When he first returned to St. Thomas, he helped run what was known at the time as Lockhart’s Lumber Yard. His wife, also an entrepreneur, opened Happy Feet, a Stride Right children’s shoe store, first in the Grand Hotel and then in Barbel Plaza.
In his younger years he joined the U. S. Army Reserves and proudly wore his uniform in parades. Kaj joined Rotary and the Lions Club in varying locations where he lived, chief among them California and St. Thomas. He thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and the service to others found in both organizations.
Kaj leaves to mourn his sister, Kathleen Petersen Goldberg (Ira) and their children: Kaj David and Kyrsten; his sister, Beryl Petersen Haywood, and her children: Inger, Daniel and Kathleen; and his stepmother, Marjorie Steele Petersen and her son, Randy Voth; and his sister-in-law, Denise Joyner. He is also survived by one aunt, Corinne Lockhart; cousins: Karen Hastie Williams, William Hastie Jr., Dale Garee, Catherine Lockhart Mills, George Dudley, Ronald Lockhart, Rita Dudley Grant, Henrik Lockhart, Rochelle, Rudy and Leslie Galiber and their families. Kaj’s larger extended family includes the Lockhart, Barbel, Steele, Elskoe, Anduze, Fulp, Nicholson, Pedersen, Christmas, Galiber and Daniel families, and their descendants.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.