Obit: Peterson, Jean A. (1930 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Austad, Baker, Bauer, Cartney, Chepil, Huff, Mell, Peterson, Stiner

----Source: The Ladysmith News (Ladysmith, WI) 3/30/2018

Peterson, Jean A. (Baker) (3 AUG 1930 - 30 MAR 2018)

Jean A. (Baker) Peterson died on Monday, March 5, 2018 at age 87. Mom was born on Aug. 3, 1930 on the farm of her parents, Ralph and Georgia Baker, on County Rd. J in Kennan along with her brother, Howard.

Her favorite part of growing up on the farm was Saturday nights in the summer time, when families would take turns and hang white sheets from the side of their barn as a makeshift screen and show films for all their neighbors. She recalled when Grandpa switched from horses and mules to tractors, and often laughed about Grandma saying they were sure to fail because of it.

She loved to drive. Grandpa Ralph taught her to drive on the farm at a young age, but he waited a bit to get her driver’s license, taking her into town and telling them, “She knows how to drive.” He may or may not have fibbed about her age. She had eight children while living in Ohio, Kansas and Wisconsin, settling in Ladysmith in 1967.

She is survived by all eight: Sharon (Steve) Huff of Spring Valley, Ohio, Sharleen (Joe) Cartney of Byron, Minn., Sue (Bob) Mell of The Villages, Fla. (formerly of Cumberland), Sandy (Trapper) Stiner of Ladysmith, Marianne Peterson of Milwaukee, Kathy (Gary) Chepil of Stevensville, Mont., Rick (Laura) Peterson of Rochester, Minn. and Deedee (Craig Austad) of Whitefish Bay. She is further survived by a beautiful group of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren in Montana, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado and Minnesota.

“Grandma Clean” was preceded in death by two of her beloved grandchildren, Mandy Bauer and Brian Stiner. We miss them every day, and we will miss her equally.

She enjoyed a good brandy old-fashioned, sewing and crocheting and knitting, and talking about her grandchildren and children. She was a lifelong reader. She looked forward to watching the Packers every week, even though she was “mad at them” this past season. She was a dog lover, and could never say no when one of her children brought yet another puppy home, asking if we could keep it.

We would like to thank her special care takers at Lake Manor, Care Partners, and Rusk County Memorial Hospital. They recognized that she was “sweet and feisty” and we appreciate that.
Immediate family will hold a private graveside service in May.

The family may be reached at deedeepeterson66@gmail.com.