Curtis Charles Peters

MADISON- Curtis C. Peters, age 82, died on Saturday, December 13, 2008, at his home from Parkinson's disease. He was born January 13, 1926, at Madison General Hospital (now Meriter) the son of Alva Wheeler Peters and Charles F. Peters. He attended Franklin Grade School and West High School, furthering his education with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the UW-Madison in 1947, and a Master's Degree in Wood Science and Technology from the University of California at Berkely in 1966. Curtis married Marjorie Schoenebeck in 1946. His first job was with Firestone Co. in Akron, Ohio. Next he worked at Ira L. Henry Co. in Watertown, WI, and then he worked at Gisholt Machine Co., and lastly the Forest Products Lab in Madison. Curtis was in the Navy ROTC V-12 program and was discharged once the war ended. He played the clarinet and the saxophone in the school and Navy bands. He also sang in church choirs, which is where he met his wife. Curtis had an interesting life. He earned his ham radio license (N9CP) and was a member of the Ham Radio Club. He loved to camp and he would take his boat and his ham radio equipment to an island in the Mississippi River for a week each summer with his wife. Together they skied out west on mountain runs and also on hills near their home. Later, Curtis took up golf and while in Akron, he obtained a small plane pilot's license. They had wonderful trips together to Alaska and Hawaii. An unusual trip was to Chittagong, Bangladesh to check out what was left after the war of a laboratory built on the order of Forest Products Lab. He had access to a house with five servants so he had his wife fly out to meet him. On their way back to the US they toured New Dehli, India and Rome, Italy. In Watertown he undertook building their home and did it all, except the fireplaces. Then in Madison he built beautiful cherry furniture, including a dining set, chairs, a buffet, an end table and a coffee table. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and he will be missed very much. Curtis is survived by his wife, Marjorie; daughters, Melody (Henry) Koch and Wendy (Keith) Brown; son, Bradford (Cheri) Peters; 7 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and a sister, Arlayne (Arthur) Braatz. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 9, 2008, at BETHANY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 3910 Mineral Point Road, Madison, with Pastor Brad Mather officiating. The family would like to thank Hospice for their wonderful compassionate care and support during the last trying weeks.