LARRY J. PETERSON
LARRY J. PETERSON
Larry James Peterson passed away peacefully May 1, 2024, at his home. He was the third son and the sixth child of seven born to Merlin and Etta Peterson (Chrisinger) on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1937, in Black River Falls. He grew up in Black River Falls milking cows and helping his family with the farm. He was an avid reader, and when he was done with his chores, he was reading books. He attended school in one-room country schools (Papoose Creek and Kenyon Valley being two of the schools). His mother, Etta, taught at one of the schools he attended. He lived in Black River Falls until he went to college at UW-River Falls with his two best friends, Bill Dobson and Fred Gilbertson. He attended Iowa State University with Bill and received his master’s in economics.
He worked for Dow Chemical and IMC in fertilizer sales and produce management for several years each and retired from IMC in 1990. He then worked in consulting and sales for several years after that.
He was married to Mary Susan Scanlon (deceased), had one daughter (Katie) and lived in Glenview, IL, until 1977, when they divorced, and he and Katie moved to Woodstock, IL. They lived on a 10-acre farm in Woodstock with three horses. They went trail riding often, and Larry was a show dad for years. Larry was an avid golfer; he belonged to Woodstock Country Club (WCC) for several years and served as president. WCC was his community for years; he had many close friendships there as well as a few holes in one!
In 1991, he moved to Crivitz, WI, and lived there for 21 years. He went golfing often and played in leagues for years. Larry was also an avid skier until the age of 75. He loved telling people that Pine Mountain let him ski for free for a few years because of his advanced age. He went to Whistler, BC, several times in the 90s and early 2000s to ski, but his favorite times were skiing with his daughter and grandchildren in the Upper Peninsula.
In 2016, he moved to Grayslake, IL, to be closer to daughter and grandchildren. He spent every Tuesday having coffee with his old friends from IMC and played in a golf league nearby as well.
Larry is survived by his daughter, Katie Forbes (Peterson); his two grandchildren, (Aeryn Forbes and Daniel Forbes); and sisters Marion Hagen, Judith Olson (Ole Olson) and Lois Ferries.
He is preceded in death by his father, Merlin Peterson, and mother, Etta Peterson; brothers Gene and Verland (Chub); and his sister, Carol Lambert (Peterson).
A celebration of life will be held at Little Norway Lutheran Church Saturday, June 15, 2024. Visitation will be held from 10:30 to 11 a.m. with services beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will take place immediately after followed by a luncheon at Skyline Golf Course at 1 p.m.
One of his friends recently said of him, “Larry was a guy who was your best friend 10 minutes after meeting him.” He will be very missed by his family and friends. We love you, Larry.