Hardy Kurt Pedersen Sr.

   Hardy Kurt Pedersen Sr., 78, of Hopewell Township died at his home on Oct. 4.
   Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, he came to this country in 1930 with his family. They settled in Plainsboro on a farm that serviced Walker Gordon for many years.
   Mr. Pedersen attended schools in Plainsboro and Princeton, graduating from Princeton High School. He served with the U.S. Marine Corps.
   Moving to Hopewell Township in 1956, he founded Hardy Nurseries Inc., a landscape design and nursery business, which he continued to operate with his son, H. Kurt Pedersen Jr.
   An active member of the Calvary Baptist Church of Hopewell, he sang in the choir for 35 years and was a trustee and a Sunday School teacher. He taught adult education classes in Hunterdon, Princeton and Hopewell Valley and often spoke to local garden clubs.
   A former member of the Hopewell Township Shade Tree Committee and Planning Board and the Ruralites, he helped found the Hopewell Valley Jaycees. For many years he was active in Boy Scout Troop 41 and the Indian Guides with his sons.
   Son of the late J. Viggo and Edel Pedersen and brother of the late Bent Pedersen and Solveig Chamberlin, he is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sophia Benson Pedersen; a daughter Elizabeth Parry of Pennington; two sons and their wives, H. Kurt and Colleen of Pennington and Mark and Cheryl of Ewing; seven grandchildren, David and Capt. Benjamin Parry, Kelsey, Ryan, Morgan, Shannon and Shelby Pedersen; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Arne and Lil Pedersen of Vermont and John Pedersen; many nieces and nephews; and his four-legged companion, Ebony.
   A service celebrating his life will be held on Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church, 3 E. Broad St., Hopewell.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of the Calvary Baptist Church.
   Arrangements are by the Blackwell Memorial Home, Pennington.