RON PETERSON

Ronald George Peterson fell asleep on December 28, 2016, and is awaiting the trumpet call of God and the resurrection at Christ’s return. He had been suffering from congestive heart failure and other illnesses for some years. He was born September 8, 1931 in Quincy, Illinois and married to his beloved wife Jean Fountain Peterson for 65 years. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1949 and served aboard the USS Valley Forge aircraft carrier in the Korean War. He and Jean have seven children, Rhonda Clore, Robin Morelli, Reginald Peterson (who pre-deceased Ron in July 2016), Rick Peterson, Teresa Westwood, Brenda Wendling, and Jeff Peterson; 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Michael Peterson, and his large family. After the Navy, Mr. Peterson attended the Milwaukee Institute of Technology and founded several successful businesses in the Quincy, Illinois area. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he performed on WGEM, the Quincy TV channel and toured on the Possum Holler Opry circuit with Tex Ritter and Jimmy Dean. After moving to Florida in 1968, he continued the family auction business and operated Opportunities, Inc., a charity that helped students obtain scholarships for college. Ron loved playing the piano and singing and passed his love for music on to his children. The Peterson family is known throughout the Church of God for their musical talents and service. He was a happy, fulfilled man who was ordained a deacon in 1972 and an elder in 1996. He served most recently in the Plant City, Florida, Living Church of God congregation. Funeral services were held at Lanier Funeral Home, 717 Griffin Rd, Lakeland, FL 33805 on January 3, 2017. Memorial food and fellowship was held at United Women’s Club 1515 Williamsburg Square, Lakeland, FL.