William Thomas Peterson

Service Details

Family and friends are invited to the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Saturday, January 13, 2018, for visitation with family at 9:00 a.m. followed by a celebration of life at 10:00.  A private interment will take place at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.

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William Thomas “Pete or Bill” Peterson, 86, of Pleasant Prairie passed away Monday, January 1, 2018, after suffering a stroke at his home while visiting with family.

He was born in Kenosha on March 9, 1931, to Clarence and Mildred Peterson and was educated in Kenosha schools.  Just out of high school, Bill worked for Lee Fulmer at Fulmer Motors, and the Fulmer and Peterson families created a lifelong friendship. He then ran a Phillips 66 station with his brother Don on Sheridan Road, where their motto was “Limp in and leap out!”

While in the Air Force and stationed in Mountain Home, Idaho, he met Barbara Dalton on a blind date. They were married just three months later, on September 5, 1953, in Boise and eventually made their home in Pleasant Prairie. Together they found a beautiful acreage, designed and built their dream home, and raised their family. They were married for 61 years, until Barb’s passing in November 2014.

Bill was an accomplished union electrician and played a large part in the construction of the Pleasant Prairie Power Plant, the Premium Outlet Mall, Ocean Spray, Parkside, Gateway Technical College, and American Brass, to name a few.  His interests were varied and always adventurous. They included raising honey bees, planting trees, making sausage and wine, boating, collecting vintage cars, and skin diving. One of his great passions was flying.  He was a private pilot, built his own airplane, owned a hangar at the Kenosha Airport, and belonged to the Waukegan Stick & Rudder Club.

He loved spending time with his family and staying involved in his children’s activities. There was never a dull moment at the Peterson place, a licensed game farm, with horses, cows, dogs, cats, the occasional goat or sheep, peacocks, pheasants, ducks, chickens, two orphaned crows, go-carts, golf carts, motorcycles, and the Gator. He was a proud John Deere fan and prided himself on keeping his land meticulously manicured.  Mowing and snow blowing were his absolute favorite seasons, and he made it clear that he needed no help in that area. As a jack of all trades, he loved to tinker and repair and invent anything and everything.

Bill loved to get on the road and travel, whether it was by car, motorcycle, or motorhome. He and his wife Barb spent many months traveling to places like Dollywood, Grand Ole Opry, Branson, Knott’s Berry Farm, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, and other places in between home and California and Idaho where they enjoyed spending time with family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; his three-year-old son, Bartley; his parents; his brother, Donald; his sisters, Betty and Helen; and his beloved cat, Hook.

He is survived by his children, Beverly (William) Wilson, of Hayward, WI; Brenda (Paul) Roiniotis, of Pleasant Prairie; Bradley (Sylvia) Peterson, of Los Altos, CA; Bobbi Peterson (Steve Tenwinkel), of Pleasant Prairie; grandchildren, Amanda (Nathan Reynolds) and Corianne Wilson (Casey Cicogna); Carly, Nick, and Andy Roiniotis; Lauren, Taylor, and Morgan Peterson; numerous wonderful nieces and nephews; and his close friend, Deloris “Dodie” Jass.

He is also survived by his two cats, Tinkerbelle and Dixie Belle.

Family and friends are invited to the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Saturday, January 13, 2018, for visitation with family at 9:00 a.m. followed by a celebration of life at 10:00.  A private interment will take place at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.