John Raymond Peters

Born February 27, 1940 in Bloomington to Max and Mildred Josephine (Sutton) Peters, he married Sandra “Sandy” Marie Oedewaldt on September 22, 1962 in Springfield. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, John Raymond Peters, Jr. of Bartonville; two daughters, Jill Marie (Jim) Bishop of Germantown, Tennessee and Sherlyn Rene (Rich) Cleaver of Pekin; six grandchildren, Meagan (Zach MacLachlan) Bishop of Tampa, Florida, Drew (Lauren) Bishop of Collierville, Tennessee, Madison Bishop of Germantown Tennessee, Kaitlyn (Kilyan Dougherty) Cleaver of Springfield, Alyssa (Nick) Kraft of Bloomington and Hayley Cleaver of Pekin and three great-grandchildren, Calvin Bishop, Rowan Dougherty and Quinn Dougherty.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Richard Peters and Raymond Peters.

John worked for Keystone Steel & Wire for 44 years before retiring in 2003. He served as the union president for Independent Steel Workers Alliance for 20 years.

He was a member of Elks Lodge 20 in Peoria, the American Legion in Bartonville and the Knights of Columbus in Peoria.

John enjoyed spending time with family, golfing, and traveling annually to Fort Myers, Florida and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He also enjoyed gardening in his yard. He was an avid Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Dodgers fan. He will be missed by many friends and neighbors.

He attended Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.

His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A private inurnment for immediate family will be at Prairie Haven Cemetery in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Heart Association, Posy Office Box 840692, Dallas, Texas 75284, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Midwest Affiliate, 530 Northeast Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61637 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Central Illinois Chapter, 614 West Glen Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61614.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com