He was born to Eric and Amanda (Zemke) Peterson, in the town of Mosling, Wis. (Gillett area) on October 12, 1931. Robert graduated from Gillett High School Class of 1950. He served in the U.S. Air Force 1950-1952 and received an honorable discharge. He married the former Jeanette Westerfeld on August 4, 1956, in Zachow, WI, celebrating 46 years of marriage. Robert retired in 1993 after 30 years working for Westerfeld Oil. He was a Charter Member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Suamico, and was active in the Suamico Rec. Dept. and the Howard-Suamico Business and Professional Association. He enjoyed playing softball with many different leagues in Suamico and also enjoyed fishing and hunting in Mountain, WI.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanette, Mountain; children, Dixie (Chris) Mueller, and children Stacy and Whitney, Neenah; Dawn (Tom) Sawyer and son, Tom Jr.,, Green Bay; Denise (Tim) Collette and children, Erin, Lindsey and Alex, Green Bay; Dale (Lynn) Peterson, and children Tyler and Brennan, Sobieski; mother, Amanda Wilke, Bonduel; one sister, Naomi (Adolph) Block, Gillett; brothers-in-law, Leon (Patricia) Westerfeld, Cecil; Dennis (Kathy) Westerfeld, Zachow; sister-in-law, Carol (Gordon) Mundt, Arbor Vitae; aunts, uncles, many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Eric Peterson; stepfather, August Wilke; father and mother-in-law Ernest and Lorena Westerfeld; many aunts and uncles.
The family received friends at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 2460 Mt. Olive Drive, Suamico, on Thursday, March 9, 2000, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Funeral service was 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the church, with Pastor Larry Nast officiating. Burial in Gillett, WI. Pfotenhauer Funeral Home, West, 1145 Cardinal Lane, Howard, assisted the family.