Obit: Peterson, John M. #3 (1899 - 1964)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Peterson, Liepert, Harder, Coyier

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 22 Oct 1964

Peterson, John M. (21 NOV 1899 - 17 OCT 1964)

John M. Peterson of Neillsville died Saturday evening, Oct. 17, 1964 after a lingering illness.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 21, at the Masonic Temple. Burial was made in Colby Cemetery.

He was born at Colby to N.P. Peterson and Martha (Larson) Peterson Nov. 21, 1899. His father, N.P. Peterson, was one of the earliest pioneers at Colby, coming here in 1871, prior to the time the railroad came to Colby.

Mr. Peterson was graduated from the Colby grade and high schools, after which he served in World War I. He then attended Lawrence College at Appleton.

He was married to Harriet Liepert of Unity in 1919. For approximately seven years he was a rural mail carrier at Colby. During this time he took several extension courses with the UW. Extension Division. He then attended law school at the UW., and received his law degree in 1930.

He spent his first four years of law practice at Owen. He was a regional claim examiner with headquarters at Wis. Rapids during 1933 - 1934. For several years he was a member of the Clark County board, and was first chairman of the mediation board during the depression years. He was re-elected for a second term, and continued practicing law in Neillsville until his illness.

He was keenly interested in community affairs, and volunteered as the first veteran service officer for Clark County, a position he held for several years. Upon the reorganization and building of the new Memorial Hospital at Neillsville, he was elected a member of the board of directors and served as secretary for 10 years. He was the home and service chairman of the Red Cross chapter for over 20 years, and was a member of the board of trustees of the Clark County Hospital at Owen for the past several years.

Skiing was one of his favorite sports. He was one of the first promoters of Bruce Mound ski area and served as first secretary of the Half Moon Ski Club. He was a member of the local and state bar associations, Masonic Lodge in Neillsville, Consistory in Eau Claire, Danish Brotherhood, Withee, American Legion, Neillsville and First Unitarian Church in Madison.

Survivors include his wife, Harriet; two daughters, Mrs. Hans (Donna Rae) Harder, Neillsville, and Mrs. Duane (Shirley) Coyier, Hood River, Ore.; and eight grandchildren.

The family asks for contributions to a memorial fund.