Earl A. Peterson

He was the third of four children born to Aleck and Anna (Burkart) Peterson on April 9, 1922 in Buffalo, NY. He attended South Park High in Buffalo, NY, and completed his General Equivalency Diploma (GED) in 1940 while he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, stationed in Idaho.

From 1940 to 1946, Earl was an Army paratrooper with assignments at Ft. Dix, NJ, Ft. Benning, GA, and culminating with service as a Captain with the 11th Airborne Division in the Pacific Theater (Japan and the Philippines) during WW II. On July 20, 1946, Earl was united in marriage to Carol Agnes Burmeister at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Buffalo, NY, where the couple resided for many years.

Earl was a sales professional (trainer and counselor) for many years with Graybar Electric Company and the General Electric Company, from which he retired in 1982. Subsequently, he worked as a sales consultant for the Amana Company, as well as Kolpinski’s Appliances, both in Buffalo, NY. In 2003 the couple moved to Sheboygan, WI to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren.

Earl was an active member of the Railroad Shrine, the Shrine Patrol, the Shrine Camel Herders, the Shrine Sojourners, and the Royal Order of Jesters, all of the Ismailia Temple in Buffalo, NY. He was also the Past Thrice Potent Master-The Lodge of Perfection-32nd Degree, of the Buffalo Consistory.

Earl is survived by a daughter, Judy (Dale) Schmidt of St. Charles, IL; a son, Timothy (Eileen) Peterson of Lorton, VA; five grandchildren, Christian (Erin) Schmidt, Jason (Paula) Schmidt, Jeremy Schmidt (fiancé: Theresa Coughlin), all of Milwaukee, WI, Meghan and, Laura Peterson, both of Lorton, VA; three great-grandchildren, Brendan, Molly, and Austin Schmidt of Milwaukee, WI; a sister, Edith (Hans) Jordan’s of Alden, NY; and two sisters-in-law, June Vohwinkel and Irene Vohwinkel, both of Cheektowaga, NY; as well as many other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, two sisters, Esther (and husband, Charles) Sloan, and Gertrude Peterson, as well as his close sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Paul Eller.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 6, 2012 at the Chapel of Eternal Light at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Kohler, WI. Reverend Timothy J. Mech, Senior Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church will officiate. A time of visitation and support will be held at the chapel Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his name. Donations can be made to: Earl Peterson Memorial Fund, c/o Judy Schmidt, 4327 Canterbury Ct., St. Charles, IL, 60174.

Earl will always be remembered for the love he generously shared with his family and all who knew him.

Arrangements under the direction of Ballhorn Chapels, Sheboygan, Wisconsin.