Douglas Peterson

Peterson, Douglas W. Kalamazoo Douglas William Peterson passed away in Kalamazoo, Michigan on July 10, 2017 at the age of 91. Douglas was born in April of 1926 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Swedish immigrant parents, Klara and Arvid Peterson, where he was raised and educated. During WWII, he served in the United States Air Force in Greenland, where he also performed in a big band, playing trombone and entertaining his cohorts at the Officer's Club. Douglas went on to receive his BA at the University of Minnesota, followed by his MA at Yale University. In the late 1950s, Douglas moved to Kalamazoo and began his tenure at Kalamazoo College, as Professor of Education (1957-1972) and then transitioning to the role of Dean of Academic Affairs (1967-1972). Douglas then decided to pursue his law degree at the University of Michigan in 1974. Returning to Kalamazoo, Douglas started his own law firm, Kidston Peterson, but left to join the firm of Gemrich, Moser, Bowser, Fette to broaden his experience in the law of public corporations, schools, colleges, and labor relations. Douglas eventually became partner in 1987 at the firm where he remained until his retirement in the 1995. Throughout his career, Douglas was very involved in local education and served on the Kalamazoo County School Board. Douglas subsequently moved to Le Claire, Iowa in 1995 after his marriage to Dorothy Ruth "DR" Peterson, where he continued to be a very active member of the community, and was the driving force behind establishing a beautiful public library in Le Claire, of which he was very proud. He was very active in city politics, and served on the Le Claire City Council. Douglas and DR returned to Kalamazoo in 2015 to be closer to family, and where they lived until his passing on July 10, 2017. Douglas Peterson was a loving father who was blessed with a brilliant mind, and lived his life with vigor and never-ending curiosity. Douglas enjoyed many things, including: tennis, traveling, reading a never-ending stream of books, joining in on an occasional round of golf, holding high the value of education, writing brilliant letters, enjoying a single Manhattan on Friday nights while catching up on the evening news, singing with gusto in the church choir, yelling at John McEnroe during tennis matches, yard work and being outside, a good game of cribbage, dogs of any sort, playing classical guitar and trombone, listening to Glenn Miller, Mozart and NPR, and a good laugh. Douglas will be missed deeply by everyone who loved him. Douglas is survived by wife Dorothy Ruth "DR" Peterson, her children Sarah, Andrew, Daniel, and Paul and wife Julie; daughter Nathalie Peterson and Nathalie's mother Genevieve Peterson, daughter Cynthia Peterson & son Nile Peterson (wife Karen) and their mother Gretchen Peterson; grandchildren Naya (Oliver) and their son Miro Fross, Spencer Brill, Arianna Brill, Dana Peterson, Hannah Peterson, Jessica (Matt) and their children Ava & Adam, Katie (Mike) and their son Henry Seigel; Nieces Lucinda Hallett, Judith Edin, Barbara J. Tierney, Hubert James Tierney Jr. and many other extended family members. Douglas was preceded in death by his parents Klara & Arvid Peterson, siblings Lisa (husband Bill Murphy), Saga (husband Hubert J. Tierney). A Memorial Service to celebrate Douglas' exceptional life is being planned and will be announced in August. Family and friends may share a condolence message online at www.joldersma-klein.com. Please send contact information to petersonmemorial@gmail.com to receive an invitation to the memorial, or for sending any memories or thoughts you have for us about Douglas. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Green Tree Library Endowment Fund and send to the Le Claire Community Library, 323 Wisconsin St., Le Claire, IA 52753.