James Wayne Peterson, 81, passed away peacefully on Tuesday November 26th, 2019.

Jim was born in a log home on the family farm north of Wright, Minnesota (Carlton County) on December 7, 1937. He was the third of six children born to Delmar and Vivian (Tollerson) Peterson. The years of growing up were spent in the Wright area on three different family farms. Two of the farms truly were located in the sticks, one of the farms had a mile long driveway that often the kids would have to sprint down to catch the bus, and in the spring Jim’s dad Delmar would often break an axle trying to transport milk to town. Jim always said that if you went back to any of these family farms and lifted up the floor boards you would likely find the venison they had poached to feed the family. He attended a one room country school near Wright, where his mother also was a teacher. But that did not mean he would always behave. Jim always could find a way to get himself into mischief. He then went to Cromwell MN High School. This is where he first got his love for High School basketball by being on the team, and in his later years loving watching high school games.

Upon graduation, Jim began working at a paper mill in Cloquet, MN, while also still working on the family farm. He also worked on the railroad setting ties and track and sailed the Great Lakes shoveling coal. During this time Jim’s oldest brother Boysy (Delmar) began sharing with him what he was learning from the Bible from Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jim didn’t just take his brothers word for it, he compared different religions on his own. It didn’t take long for him to know he was learning the truth. He was baptized as one of Jehovah’s people on June 3, 1961.

Soon thereafter, Jim moved to Chisago City, MN. There, for a time, he lived in a cottage on the Paul and Helen Peterson farm. While he lived there, Paul and Helen took him under their wing spiritually. Later they became his father and mother-in-law. Yes, the farmer’s daughter eventually caught his eye. While living there he supported himself by helping on the farm and working on a garbage route with a friend.

Within a short time, Jim moved to the Amery, Wisconsin area. The prime reason for the move was to help support the ministry in this seldom worked territory. He lived and worked on the Ray and Lorraine Nordquist farm near Clayton, WI.

On December 15, 1962, Jim married Lois Lorraine Peterson, the farmer’s daughter, at the Chisago City, MN, Kingdom Hall. They settled on Pine Haven Farm near Deer Park, WI. There they raised their two sons, Joel and Barry. Jim was a very hardworking husband and father. In addition to taking care of the farm and running a janitorial service, Jim and Lois together were both zealous for their God Jehovah and active members in several congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They included, Amery, New Richmond, Glenwood City and Hayward. As a couple, Jim and Lois influenced the lives of many in positive ways.

Jim was a very generous man. If you were ever in need of something whether it be a car or a place to stay, Jim would work out a deal or a trade with you that often wouldn’t benefit himself but the one who needed it. Jim liked to treat everyone as family and many came to view him the same way as well. Jim loved to tell stories, some true, some not! When you went to visit Jim you could either find him in the house watching a western or tinkering on a car or tractor in his shed.

Jim loved spending time with each of his four grandchildren Tyler, Hannah, Logan, and Shalynn, and his bonus grandchild Tyler’s wife Chelsea. He loved to laugh with them and tease them. Often he would stay up late playing cards or watching a western with them. He was so happy knowing that each of them was continuing in their spiritual heritage often saying “Grandpa’s proud of you”.

Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife Lois Peterson, his parents Delmar and Vivian Peterson, along with his younger sister Vivian Korpela. He is survived by his sons and their families; Joel, Cath, Tyler, Chelsea, and Hannah; Barry, Michele, Logan and Shalynn. His siblings: Delmar and wife Irene Peterson, Gladys Cooke, Thomas Peterson, and Susan Wojciehowski, as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family. He is also survived by a very large spiritual family which is too numerous to count. All are waiting for the time as described at Revelation 21:3, 4 when Jim will be resurrected back to a paradise earth.

Services will be held 3 PM on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at the Amery High School Auditorium. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the Amery High School Auditorium.

Last Update: Dec 17, 2019 8:37 am CST