Donald E. Peterson

Donald E. Peterson, 84, Wausau, died Monday October 26, 2015, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. He was born December 23, 1930, in Essex, Montana, son of the late Winton and Etta (Collette) Peterson. On September 1, 1956, he married Jan Shebelski at St. Paul Catholic Church, Mosinee. She survives. Don was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the Mortuary Services field. After his discharge from military service, he completed his education to become a Funeral Director. In 1957, Don purchased the Barden Funeral Home and began his career which would span over 40 years. Peterson Funeral Home would go on to provide dedicated service to the Wausau community under his distinctive and compassionate leadership. After his retirement, he was a volunteer at Aspirus Wausau Hospital and remained active at St. Michael Catholic Church, where he served as lector, usher, Eucharistic Minister and Funeral Mass Server through the years. Among the many civic and fraternal organizations of which Don was a member were; Third Degree Knights of Columbus George Schreier Council No. 1069, which he served as Grand Knight; Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Pere Rene Menard General Assembly, which he served as Faithful Navigator; Wausau Elks Lodge No. 248; The former Wausau Serra Club; The American Legion, Montgomery-Plant-Dudley Post No. 10; The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Burns Post No. 388, all of Wausau. Survivors include his wife, Jan Peterson, Wausau; four children, Mark (Lisa) Peterson, New Berlin, Mary Peterson, Rochester, Minn., Mike Peterson, Galveston, Tex., and Paul (Barbara) Peterson, Rockford, Ill.; grandchildren, Lisa, John, Christina, Ryan, Alex, Kailee, Megan, Bailey, Bridget and Maximilian; five great grandchildren; his twin sister, Dorothy Most, Prescott and a brother, James Peterson, Ellsworth. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Friday October 30, 2015, at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau. Rev. William Grevatch will preside. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Friends may call on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com