John Peterson, 86, passed away on March 20, 2011, following a long and courageous battle with brain cancer. He departed this life peacefully, at home in the company of family and loved ones.
John was born in Spokane on June 23, 1924, and he and his sisters Ruth, Mildred and Pauline were raised there by his parents, John and Effie Peterson. John attended John Rogers High School where his success as a football player earned him a spot on Spokane’s All-City football team.
After graduation in the early days of World War II, John answered his country’s call and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the Fourth Marine Division, and took part in the Marshall Islands campaign.
Following the war, John attended Washington State University, where he was starting guard on the Cougar football team and a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He was also a cadet in the WSU Army ROTC program, and was named the unit’s Outstanding Military Student.
While in college, John met the love of his life, Jane Downing Herman, and their marriage of more than 60 years began on Sept. 9, 1950. Shortly after their marriage and John’s graduation from college, the nation found itself involved in another war, this time in Korea. John once again answered the call, this time as an officer in the United States Army. He successfully completed jump school training and was initially assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. He deployed to Korea as a member of the 25th “Lightning” Division, where he served with distinction in combat as a first lieutenant and company commander, earning the Bronze Star medal for heroism.
Throughout his life, John was immensely and justifiably proud of his service to his country, in two wars and two different branches of the military.
Following Korea, John returned to civilian life and he and Jane relocated to Clarkston, Wash., where John was employed by General Motors Acceptance Corp. In 1967, John, Jane and the family, which by then included six children, relocated to Oak Harbor and to the current family home. John had purchased the Credit Bureau of Island County, a family-run Oak Harbor business which continues to this day, and he remained involved in that business until his illness. Throughout his many years as an Oak Harbor resident and businessman, John enjoyed great popularity and actively contributed to his community. He was a serving member of the Oak Harbor Rotary Club, where he held the designation as Pioneer of Rotary and was recognized for his service by his selection as a Paul Harris Fellow. John was also a member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, where he served as usher for many years. He was truly a friend to all who knew him. He was famous for his avid support of Cougar sports, and for his gregarious nature, warm personality and the ever-present joke of the day, from a seemingly endless supply.
During the progression of his illness, John endured both its physical and emotional impacts with typical good nature. He not only did not complain, but cheered those around him with his humor and good grace. In fact, his greatest outward concern was for the impact of the demands of his care on others. The manner in which he dealt with his illness is truly an example for us all.
The family extends sincere thanks for John’s excellent care during his illness to the doctors and staff at Skagit Valley Hospital’s Regional Cancer Care Center, and especially to his oncologist, Dr. Kiarash Kojouri, for his expert care and in particular for his genuine compassion. John and the family were additionally blessed with a wonderful caregiver, Tosh Welshans, who devoted himself to John’s care for the last year of his life, who was his friend and companion, and whose selfless support made it possible for John to remain in the comfort of his own home throughout his illness. And, a special thanks to Dr. Robert Lycksell, John’s long-time primary care physician and friend.
In addition to his wife Jane, John is survived by six children: daughters Lynn Phillips of Granite Falls, Peggy Hamernik (Ken) of Redmond and Patty Encinas, of Oak Harbor; and sons Jack (Teresa) of Portland, Ore., Todd (Cora Ann) of Hayden, Idaho and Tim, of Carson City, Nev. John’s grandchildren number 14, and most recently, he was blessed with three great-grandchildren.
All who were privileged to know and love John Peterson during his long life will be forever diminished by his absence, just as they were blessed because he came their way.
A memorial Mass celebrating the life of John A. Peterson will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 15, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall. The family requests that remembrances in John’s name be made to the Oak Harbor Rotary Foundation, PO Box 442, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.
