John E. Peterson

John E. Peterson, age 79 of Elk Rapids passed away Oct. 19, 2020 at Cherry Hill Haven in Traverse City with his wife by his side. John was born on Feb. 7, 1941 in Detroit, MI. to Ralph and Dagny Peterson, and graduated from Bentley High School in 1959 and Western Michigan University in 1964.

He married Kathleen (daughter of William and Winifred) on June 4, 1971. He and Kathleen moved to Elk Rapids in 2000 - John had looked forward to moving to Northern Michigan all his life. He loved and took joy in its peace, the lakes, forests, farmland and wildlife.

John was a natural athlete. He was an avid runner and cyclist, an exceptional slalom skier and table tennis player and a 300 bowler. His other love was his music, most recently the Clef Cats, a popular "Doo Wop" quartet in the Traverse City and Elk Rapids area. Everyone knew John as irrepressibly outgoing and a great kidder, irresistibly drawn to people - no one was a stranger to John.

Besides his wife, John will be missed/loved by his sons, John, Jesse, and Jason (Julie), and grandchildren, Taylor, Ellie, Ben and Will. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by brothers David and Robert.