Drew Matthew Peterson was only 22 years old.
A lineman. A helper. A young man still becoming who he was meant to be. This week, his family laid him to rest — and through their grief, they asked that people know who Drew truly was, not just how his life ended, but how it was lived.
Drew worked as an apprentice lineman, a profession rooted in service and sacrifice. Long days. Dangerous conditions. Showing up so others could have light, heat, and safety. For Drew, it wasn’t just a job or a paycheck — it was purpose.
Outside the hard hat, Drew was pure joy. Always smiling. Laughing with his girlfriend. Family members say he was an “instant friend” — the kind of person you meet once and never forget.
His life was tragically cut short in a devastating crash on Interstate 80 in Iowa, when the tires and rims from a semi-truck broke loose, crossed the median, and struck his vehicle. In an instant, everything changed. In an instant, everything ended.
Drew leaves behind his parents, Tim and Sylvia, a brother, a nephew, his girlfriend, and countless friends and loved ones now navigating a grief no family should ever face.
As many continue praying for injured linemen Hunter and Denny after the ice storm, Drew’s family asks for prayers as well.
Because Drew’s life mattered, too.
