"This guy got out of bed at three o'clock in the morning and left his wife and kids to go on this call and never came back again."<br />
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Mark W. Peters, 36, died November 9, 1995 in a fiery ambulance accident when the driver lost control north of Rochester, Minnesota. The ambulance went out of control when it hit slippery road conditions, went in a ditch, rolled and caught fire.<br />
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Serving as the ambulance attendant, Mark died from injuries he received when he was thrown from the vehicle. In addition, the patient also died from smoke inhalation.<br />
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The patient's husband tried to rescue his wife but flames drove him back. Forty-two ambulances and other emergency vehicles from southern and central Minnesota and western Wisconsin led a funeral procession escorting Mark to his final resting place.<br />
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Lake City flags were flown at half-mast in memory of Mark until the day after his funeral. Following the graveside service dozens of balloons were released in his memory.<br />
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Mark was forever working in service to his hometown. A Coast Guard veteran, he piloted the Spirit of Lake City and later the Yachtacy Eagle taking townspeople and tourists on excursions of Lake Pepin.<br />
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Mark had been a volunteer on the Lake City Ambulance Service for 11 years, was an advocate for preservation of the city's history and was serving his second three-year term on the City Council.<br />
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Mark worked at Red Wing Pottery Chiropractic Clinic in Red Wing and was active in his church.<br />
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Survivors include his wife Denise; daughter Alesha; son Destin; his parents; and four brothers.<br />
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Mark was remembered as a quiet man with a receding hairline and a thin mustache stretched out by an almost constant smile and for having given his life in service.<br />
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Honored 1996 |