Thomas Petersen

Deerfield/Springstead- Thomas "Tom" N. Petersen, age 73, passed away at home with his family by his side on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer. Tom was born on September 25, 1939 to Chester R. and Maude C. Petersen and raised in Monona on the lake with his dear friends John and Jim Rothman and Fred Schulze. The four comapdres have remained close throughout their entire lives. Tom was a member of the Monona Grove first graduating class in 1957. On September 16, 1961, Tom and Judy Carter were married. Their marriage was blessed with four wonderful children, Gina (Scott) Wiedenhoeft of Ixonia, Heidi (Matt) VanBeek of Token Creek and Chad (Heidi) Petersen and Cory (Jodi) Petersen, both of Marshall. Tom was the very proud grandpa of Carter and Micah Wiedenhoeft, Marie "Breezy" and Garret "Whirlwind" VanBeek, Kelby "Snuffy" and Collin Petersen and Katie and Tyler "T-Bone" Petersen. Tom spent 38 years in the Real Estate and home building business and built beautiful homes for his family and others. Tom was an avid race fan and restored, with the help of his friend Dean Erfurth, two historic vintage Midgets and a Sprint Car, which he raced on various tracks in WI, MN, IL, Iowa, FL and North Carolina until he hung up his helmet in June 2005. Tom loved his time spent fishing and especially snowmobiling at their cottages in the Mercer area, and particularly loved their log cabin on Charnley Lake in Springstead. Tom was well known in the North for his brightly colored knit hat that his friend Carol Rothman made for him about 30 years ago which made him recognized at many snowmobile pit stops throughout the north. After Tom retired, he and his friends, Ray Grob and Fred Schulze fished the Madison lakes extensively and successfully. Tom is survived by his loving wife, Judy; children and their spouses; grandchildren; sister-in-laws, Sally Simley of Prescott and Jeanne Humphrey of Merrimac; brother-in-law, Roy (Sue) Carter of Westport; several nieces and nephews, including Lynne (Greg) Petersen-Call, Kristin (Will) Petersen-Ruiz and Don (Jennifer) Petersen; and many friends. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Don; and infant sister, Marsha. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at Cress Funeral Home in Deerfield, with Rev. Anthony Schultz officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Monday, January 14, 2013 and from 10:00 AM until the time of services Tuesday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Rainbow Hospice of Jefferson or to the Deerfield Community Center. A special thank you to Jean from Home Health United and Pat, Luann and Denise from Rainbow Hospice.
"My life was not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to slide in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--- WOW, WHAT A RIDE!!"
Cress Funeral Service
201 Bue Street
Deerfield, WI 53531
(608) 764-5369