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Wally Peterson, 96, of Sturgeon Bay, a true man of God, passed away peacefully Saturday evening, January 24, 2009 at Pine Crest Village. He was born June 8, 1912 south of Sturgeon Bay to the late Ole and Mary (Gehring) Peterson. He was the 6th of what would be 10 children and was always very proud of his Norwegian heritage. Wally was a graduate of Sevastopol High School and loved to tell stories of his basketball playing days and of his favorite car with the “rumble seat”. On June 3, 1939 he married Ruby L. Sperber at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Valmy. They were married 67 years.She preceded him in death on January 8, 2007. Wally worked as a painter for Baudhuin Yacht Harbor and during this time he also started his sign painting business, Wally’s Signs. He then worked for Peterson Builders where he retired in 1978 as a supervisor in the paint department. Along with the many signs Wally painted around the county, he was also well known for the beautiful watercolor paintings he did of Door County landscapes and lighthouses. He taught adult art classes at N.E.W. Technical College and at the Senior Center.At the age of 85, he painted the full length wall mural of a ship going through the old bridge, at the Door County Maritime Museum. He continued to paint until the age of 90 when his eyesight began to fail him. He had been a long time active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, serving on the Church Council, teaching Sunday School and helping any way he was asked to for as long as was able.
Survivors include his four children: Eunice (John) Maxfeldt, Manitowoc; Charlene (Tom) Slavik, Waukesha; Larry (Kathy) Peterson, Two Rivers; Craig (Carol) Peterson, Brookfield; 12 grandchildren, Sherri (Tom) Brey, Manitowoc; Bill (Tiffany) Maxfeldt, Elkhorn; Randy (Liz) Slavik, Mosinee; Lori Slavik, Waukesha; Cheryl (Jeff) Szalewski, Rochester; David (Heather) Peterson, Bemidji, MN; Shane (Gwen) Peterson, Sturgeon Bay; Zak (Adrianne) Peterson, Two Rivers, Abby, Geo, Molly, and Joey Peterson, Brookfield; and 12 great-grandchildren, Alexandria and Victoria Brey, Manitowoc;Caden and Everett Maxfeldt, Elkhorn; Eric and Nicholas Farchmin, Waukesha; Max, Hannah and Maddie Szalewski, Rochester; Isaac Peterson, Kaukauna, Auden and Ashton Peterson, Two Rivers; one sister-in- law, Dorothy Sperber, Franklin and many very special nieces , nephews, cousins, friends and his neighbors on 6th Avenue and Huron.He was also preceded in death by four brothers, Anton, Lester, Clarence and Orland and five sisters, Inga Stegman, Edith Boneck, Christine Weis, Olga Henkel and Martha Curry.
Funeralservices will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, the Rev. Darrick Kolterjahn officiating. Burial will be in Bayside Cemetery.Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church or Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired. Forbes Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at www.forbesfuneralhome.com
The family would like to thank the staff a Pine Crest Village, Unity Hospice, Para Tran Medical Transport and Pastor Kolterjahn for their assistance, care and compassion. |
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