FOOTVILLE - David Alton Peterson, Sr., age 76, passed away at his home in Footville, WI, on Thursday, November 13, 2008, after a courageous battle with lung disease. Dave was born in Minneapolis, MN on April 2, 1932, to Adolph Peterson and Ruth (Reynolds) Peterson. His youth and teenage years were spent in the Stoughton and Oregon, WI area, graduating from Oregon High School in 1950. Dave had many jobs during high school and following graduation, but his goal was to have his own farm. On April 11, 1953 he married his dancing sweetheart M. Kathryn Kauk, and they started working toward that goal achieving it in 1968, by purchasing a dairy and crop farm near Footville. He and Kathryn also owned and operated the Footville Agri Feed Service in Footville for many years, retiring in 1996. He then worked for Akey Mfg Co., Footville, delivering products until early 2008.
Dave was an active member of the New Horizon United Methodist Church, formerly Footville United Methodist Church, serving on the Board in many areas. He was a thirty year member of Union Mutual Insurance Co. Board of Directors, retiring when the company merged. He was a former member of the Brodhead Bowling League, the Decatur Lake Golf league, Bass Creek Golf league, of which he was very proud, as the course was built on his former farm, the Footville/Orfordville Chamber of Commerce, where he was an originator of the "Make a Difference Day" for the communities. He was a member of the Janesville Moose, and was a member of many farm and feed organizations in the past. His greatest joy was his family. He was the happiest when the beds, the couches, and the floors were covered with sleeping, as that meant the family was home. No one left without a "Bear Hug" and an "I Love You".
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathryn; his six children, Mareejo (Robert) Seidemann of Sussex, and their children, Jennifer and Jason; David, Jr. (Tonia) of Mendota, IL, and their children, Kari, Jacob, and Jessica; Leann (Robert Johnson) Stluka of Milton, and her children, Sarah (Eric Norton) Stluka and their children, Hailee and Quinn; Wendy (Jerod) Copus and their children, Faith, Myah, and Naomi Scott Stluka and his son, Trevor; Karalyn (Keith) Simes of Milton, and their children, Hannah and Abigail; Janice Willger of Bangor, and her children, Ryan and Jacalyn; Allen (Nancy) of Edgerton, and their children Owen and Emmily; step-granddaughters, Stacy (Lee) Gilmeister of Eland and their children, Laura, Kalee, and Megan; and Amy (Andy) Netzel of Amherst, and their daughter Adalyn; step-brother, William (Maxine) Sholts of Oregon; special sister and brother-in-law, Jean (Paul) Clark of Brodhead; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Pickett of Juda, and Katherine Kauk of Albany; brother- in-law, Jon (Margaret) Kauk of Albany, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Alma Peterson; his parents-in-law, Philip and Mary Kauk; grandson, Eric Willger; son-in-law, Richard Stluka; brothers-in-law, Glen Pickett and Richard Kauk; step-father-in-law, Herbert Striker and step-sister-in-law, Margaret Striker.
Funeral services will be held at New Horizon United Methodist Church, Hwy 11 and Murphy Road on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Wendy Slaback officiating. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery, Town of Center.
A visitation will be held at Newcomer-Silverthorn Chapel on the Hill, Hwy 11 and South Coon Island Road, Orfordville from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday November 16, 2008.
A memorial will be established at a later date.
Newcomer-Silverthorn Chapel on the Hill
(608) 879-2333.
Dave was an active member of the New Horizon United Methodist Church, formerly Footville United Methodist Church, serving on the Board in many areas. He was a thirty year member of Union Mutual Insurance Co. Board of Directors, retiring when the company merged. He was a former member of the Brodhead Bowling League, the Decatur Lake Golf league, Bass Creek Golf league, of which he was very proud, as the course was built on his former farm, the Footville/Orfordville Chamber of Commerce, where he was an originator of the "Make a Difference Day" for the communities. He was a member of the Janesville Moose, and was a member of many farm and feed organizations in the past. His greatest joy was his family. He was the happiest when the beds, the couches, and the floors were covered with sleeping, as that meant the family was home. No one left without a "Bear Hug" and an "I Love You".
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathryn; his six children, Mareejo (Robert) Seidemann of Sussex, and their children, Jennifer and Jason; David, Jr. (Tonia) of Mendota, IL, and their children, Kari, Jacob, and Jessica; Leann (Robert Johnson) Stluka of Milton, and her children, Sarah (Eric Norton) Stluka and their children, Hailee and Quinn; Wendy (Jerod) Copus and their children, Faith, Myah, and Naomi Scott Stluka and his son, Trevor; Karalyn (Keith) Simes of Milton, and their children, Hannah and Abigail; Janice Willger of Bangor, and her children, Ryan and Jacalyn; Allen (Nancy) of Edgerton, and their children Owen and Emmily; step-granddaughters, Stacy (Lee) Gilmeister of Eland and their children, Laura, Kalee, and Megan; and Amy (Andy) Netzel of Amherst, and their daughter Adalyn; step-brother, William (Maxine) Sholts of Oregon; special sister and brother-in-law, Jean (Paul) Clark of Brodhead; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Pickett of Juda, and Katherine Kauk of Albany; brother- in-law, Jon (Margaret) Kauk of Albany, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Alma Peterson; his parents-in-law, Philip and Mary Kauk; grandson, Eric Willger; son-in-law, Richard Stluka; brothers-in-law, Glen Pickett and Richard Kauk; step-father-in-law, Herbert Striker and step-sister-in-law, Margaret Striker.
Funeral services will be held at New Horizon United Methodist Church, Hwy 11 and Murphy Road on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Wendy Slaback officiating. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery, Town of Center.
A visitation will be held at Newcomer-Silverthorn Chapel on the Hill, Hwy 11 and South Coon Island Road, Orfordville from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday November 16, 2008.
A memorial will be established at a later date.
Newcomer-Silverthorn Chapel on the Hill
(608) 879-2333.