David L. Peterson

On Wednesday, November 3, 2021, David L. Peterson went home to be with his Lord and Savior at the age of 79.

David was born on May 21, 1942, in Viroqua, Wisconsin to Thorwald and Jean (Thompson) Peterson. He spent his childhood years on the family farm in Genoa, WI. On October 8, 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Sonia (Molland). He was the plant manager for Mercury Industries in Richland Center until he retired in 2006 and spent his remaining years visiting family and spending time with his wife at their cabin on Lake Wissota.

David leaves behind an unforgettable legacy and so many precious memories. He was a man of incredible work ethic who held a high standard for himself. He never shied away from lending a hand and worked hard to make sure the job was done right. David had strong opinions and a tough exterior that earned the respect of others, but on the inside he carried the most gentle and generous heart. An expert tinkerer who was always taking things apart to figure out how they worked, there was no problem that couldn’t be solved and no item that couldn’t be fixed with his inventive, clever mind.

No matter how many birthday candles were on his German Sweet Chocolate Cake, David was always a kid at heart with a spirited sense of humor and a love of practical jokes. You could find him belly-laughing with his grandkids on the shore of Lake Wissota as they launched fireworks in the general direction of some very startled fisherman, or spinning wild stories to a child on his lap with that mischievous sparkle in his eye. No matter how tall the tale, David magically made it seem possible.

While David was lighthearted with an unforgettable sense of humor, he was also a man of deep, abiding faith. His unwavering commitment to the Lord set an example for everyone around him and continues to bless the generations after him. He loved Gaither music, and we will never forget his deep, rumbling voice as he sang along in the background or read from his bible for the annual Christmas story.

The empty space that’s left in the wake of his passing is enormous, but his memory and his legacy of faith are unforgettable. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sonia, and their 3 children: Kim (Randy) Strop of New Prague, MN, Kathy (Jeff) Newman of McFarland, WI, and Kevin (Kimberly) Peterson of Keller, TX. His memory and stories will also live on through his 10 grandchildren and 10 (soon to be 12!) great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his siblings:  Michael (Monica) Peterson, Allan (Deborah) Peterson, Keith (Karen) Peterson, Mark (Rhonna) Peterson, and Beth (Jonathan) Petersen. 

He is preceded in death by his father, Thorwald Peterson and mother, Jean Peterson.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 13, at Bad Axe Lutheran Church with Pastor Don Greven officiating. A visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 until service time.

Online condolences may be offered at www.rothfamilycremation.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Bad Axe Lutheran Church or Bad Axe Lutheran Church/Kenya Pastors.

Bad Axe Lutheran is inviting you to view David's Celebration of Life service.

Upon joining the Zoom Service your video will be off and microphone muted

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Meeting ID: 884 2118 4702

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