Walter "Jack" Peterson

May 19, 1929 - November 14, 2010

Walter A. ?Jack? Peterson, also known as Dad, Grampy, and Papa Jack , 81 years old of 2717 Eastridge Drive, Centerville, Iowa, passed away Sunday, November 14, 2010 at his home surrounded by his family. Walter was born May 19, 1929 to John Henry and Vera Mae (Allison) Peterson near Lovilia, Iowa. Walter graduated from Lovilia High School in 1948, he worked at International Harvester in Rock Island, Illinois for a year, and then he entered the Air Force, where he received an Honorable Discharge after serving 3 years, 10 months and 14 days, as an instructor of radar. After returning home, Walter started his own business of repairing television sets. He next worked for the Firestone Store in Albia where he would fix television sets in the shop or make house calls. Walter met his future bride to be, Mary Elayne Hackett at Kit?s Café in Albia where she worked as a waitress. They were married on April 10, 1955, in the Christian Church in Albia, Iowa. They were blessed with 55 years of marriage and four children, three daughters, Catherine, Debra, and Jacqueline and one son Gregory. After leaving the Firestone Store, Walter started with the Cable Company in Albia, Iowa and Guthrie Center, Iowa where he worked as Manager of both towns traveling to Guthrie Center twice a week and in Albia three days a week. Every Friday night he would go to the football games played by the Albia Blue Demons and film the games to be watched the following Sunday on Albia?s cable station number 4. After his two oldest daughters graduated from Albia High School, he moved his wife Mary and his two younger children to Ottumwa, Iowa where he became the manager of the cable TV operation there from 1975 to 1981, at that time the cable company closed and his third daughter had graduated Ottumwa High School, Walter moved his wife Mary and son to Centerville, Iowa where he worked at ISU later to become Alliant Energy. He retired from Alliant Energy in 1995, and then at the age of sixty-six he could not sit still and started a business installing ground source heat pumps. Walter was doing this right to the time of his passing. He loved spending time with his three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He enjoyed visiting with people, he never knew a stranger, he and his wife Mary loved to travel after she retired, they met and made many friends. Walter also enjoyed hunting (Mushrooms, duck, and deer), fishing, camping, boating, water skiing, archery, golf, square dancing, cruising and traveling. His most memorable trip was traveling to Egypt. Walter was a member of Drake Avenue Christian Church where he served as a Elder, 18-80 Club, ISU Retiree?s, Democrat Party, American Legion, Retired Teachers, Peoples Bunch, and Golden Opportunity Club. Walter is survived by his wife Mary, his three daughters, Catherine (Steven) Kool of Moravia, Debra (Robert) Eaton of Mesa, Arizona, Jacqueline Peterson of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and his son Gregory and special friend Renee of Centerville, three grandchildren, Adam (Casey) Kool of Moravia, Addison and Ashley Peterson of Tucson, Arizona, along with two great grandchildren, Lane and Sidney Kool of Moravia. Walter is also survived by his two brothers, Gerald (Maxine) Peterson of Albia, and Harold (Sharon) Peterson of Lovilia, and one sister Donna Post of Lovilia. Brothers-in-law, Albert (Eleanor Hackett of Albia, James (Judy) Hackett of Albia, John Russell of Des Moines, sisters-in-law, Joan (Ellis) Williams of Lovilia, and Linda Hackett of Oskaloosa, and numerous nieces and nephews, and all of the wonderful and very dear friends that he has met along his life?s journey over the past 81 years. Walter is preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, Henry and Vera Peterson, parents-in-law, Russell and Edith Hackett, two sister-in-laws, Ava Russell and Mable Collett, and one brother-in-law, Kenneth Post. At Walter?s request, he was cremated, and there will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at Drake Avenue Christian Church in Centerville, with Military Rites provided by the Mystic American Legion Post # 340, Centerville VFW Post #526, and Centerville Am Vet Post #138. Interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a Walter A. ?Jack? Peterson memorial has been established.