Earl W. Peterson, age 90, of rural Clintonville got his wish on Monday, December 25, 2017 to be able to pass away at his home.
Earl Walter Peterson was born on November 9, 1927 to the late Earl and Carrie (Jacobson) Peterson in Racine, Wisconsin. At the age of four, the family moved to the Cloverleaf Lakes area near Clintonville. In 1948, Earl graduated from Clintonville High School and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. In 1953, he was united in marriage to Helen Cotter of Shawano. Helen preceded him in death in 2000. Earl served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1969 with an Honorable Discharge. In 1969 after retiring from the military, Earl and Helen, along with their two children, Susan and David, settled back at the Cloverleaf Lakes. Earl continued to work for the next 15 years at a furniture company in Embarrass and then at a garage door manufacturer in Shawano. Additionally, Earl started “Pete’s Bait & Tackle Shop” in 1970. He was very proud of the Bait Shop and continued running it until the time of his death.
Survivors include two children; one daughter and her husband, Susan and Steven Laviolette of Clintonville and their two children, Stephanie (Cliff) Martin of Appleton and Sarah Laviolette of Clintonville; one son and his wife, David and Ann (Rohan) Peterson of Little Chute and their three children, Brian (Lucy) Peterson of Little Chute, William (Julie Romenesko) Peterson of Appleton, and Dawn (Justin) Hill of Green Bay. There are eleven great-grandchildren. He is further survived by one sister, Ruth Frost; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim (Gloria) Cotter and Mike (Karen) Cotter; and a sister-in-law, Donna Cotter. Earl was preceded in death by his wife Helen, one sister June Smith, and two grandchildren, David R. Peterson and Steven Laviolette Jr. Earl was also preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters-in-law.
Funeral Service will be held on Friday, December 29th at 11:00 a.m. at Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Clintonville. Rev. Brian Weber will officiate and burial will be at Graceland Cemetery, Clintonville, in the spring. Military Honors will be provided at the funeral home by members of the VFW Post 664, American Legion Post 63, and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 63, all of Clintonville. Friends may call on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
The family wishes to especially thank Ed, Don, and Fester for helping Earl out in his later years.