William Laverne “Bill” Peterson, 91, of McGregor, Iowa, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2024, at Crossing Rivers Health, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. William Laverne Peterson was born November 30, 1932 the son of Gilbert and Rebecca (Magnusson) Peterson. He was baptized when he was three days old. Bill attended Swede Ridge country school through eighth grade and graduated from McGregor High School in 1950. After a year of factory work in Milwaukee, Wisconsin he decided to join the Navy. After the Navy, Bill attended Luther College and graduated in 1960 with a degree in accounting.
While at Luther, Bill dated Dorothy Davis, who was also from the McGregor area and they were united in marriage on December 28, 1958 at First Lutheran Church in McGregor, Iowa. After graduation the couple and their firstborn child, Lisa, moved to the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. Bill worked several years in public accounting and then took a job as an office manager of a construction company. Two more children, Eric and Joan, were born to the family. In 1980, after the children had graduated from high school, Bill and Dorothy moved to Phoenix, Arizona where the new headquarters of Northern Contracting was relocated. When the company was sold in 1987, Bill retired from office management and moved to the Davis farm in Iowa and experimented in growing mushrooms and reforesting part of the farm.
During the “farm years” Bill worked as an escort driver, moving oversized equipment and delivering parts to local factories, seeing much of United States. The best part of the farm years was sharing his love of rural life with his grandchildren, who have all expressed good memories of Grandpa’s tractor rides and entertaining stories.
When grass mowing and snow removal became too difficult, it was time to move from the farm. Bill’s later years were spent watching the interesting traffic go by from the upper deck of his and Dorothy’s home on Main Street in McGregor. In the winter he enjoyed watching sports on TV and reading.
Church and family have always been important to Bill. Some of his first memories were of the Little Norwegian Church and the merger with the Swede Church when he was four years old. (He didn’t think it was fair that the Swede Church became the main place of worship.) Whenever Bill changed residence finding a church and becoming an active member was high on his agenda.
Leaving to mourn Bill’s passing include his wife of 65 years, Dorothy; his children, Lisa Hansen, Eric (Kim) Peterson and Joan (John) Ballard; his grandchildren, Joel (Betsy) Hansen, Josias (Brittney) Hansen, Leslie (Shawn Grant) Olson, Nicholas (Sophia Russell) Olson, Brian Peterson and Joe Peterson, seven greatgrandchildren; sisters, Edith Nading and Jean Kennedy and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Preceding Bill in death include his parents, Gilbert and Rebecca Peterson; brother, Ronald Peterson; sisters, LaVonne Klotzbach and Mildred Gaulke; grandson, Benjamin Hansen; and his brothers-in-law, Rob Klotzbach, Chuck Gaulke, Marvin Nading and Ken Kennedy.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 11am at First Lutheran Church-Swede Ridge, rural McGregor, Iowa. The Rev. Gary Hatcher will be the officiant.
Visitation will be held from 9-11am before services at the church.
Inurnment will follow in First Lutheran Cemetery-Swede Ridge, rural McGregor, Iowa.
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of McGregor, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.