Donald Eugene Peterson, 96, of Madison, WI., passed away peacefully on December 19, 2024, at home after a long illness. He was born October 30, 1928, in Kewanee, IL., son of Emil and Ruth Peterson. He married Marion Starostka on December 27, 1947, 77 years ago, at St. Peter’s Evangelical Church of Kewanee where Don was baptized, confirmed, married and saw his first son baptized.

Don’s life mirrored the American Dream. His father was a glove cutter at Boss Glove Company and lost his job in the Great Depression. Don remembered the relief truck distributing food boxes. His family lived with his grandmother. They had no indoor plumbing. Don carried water from a nearby well; the outhouse was shared with their neighbors.

At 11, he started his first job, delivering newspapers. He also worked detasseling corn. During World War II’s labor shortage, he was a railroad gandy dancer maintaining the rails. After high school he was employed by United Airlines and then Aetna Insurance in Chicago where he was exposed to early computers. In 1948 he was hired by Oscar Mayer Co. in Davenport, Iowa, as a data processing supervisor. Their mainframe computer in the dimly lit basement filled the room.

Don later remarked that today’s cell phones are more powerful than that machine. Drafted into the Korean War in 1951, he was posted by the Army in Washington, DC where he used his skills in data processing to assist in the war effort. In 1956 Oscar Mayer promoted Don to Madison to centralize the computer operations. He spent 40 years with Oscar Mayer, retiring as Vice President of Information Services.

A high school varsity football player, Don was a life-long sports aficionado, a diehard Chicago Cubs and Bears fan; and attended every Wisconsin Badger home football game for over 40 years. Don loved golf and was an avid member of the Blackhawk Country Club, sometimes tallying scores low enough to match his age. He also volunteered with the Boy Scouts, Meals on Wheels, the United Way, Oakwood, WHA, Independent Living, and the Ronald McDonald House. He volunteered with the International Executive Service Club, providing free consulting services to organizations in developing countries. He and Marion worked in Paraguay helping a cotton company manage their computer systems. He was an active member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church for 67 years.

Don is survived by his wife Marion, his children Mark (Erica) Peterson, Gary (Lynette) Peterson and grandchildren Cassia (Jason) Naify, Chad (Amanda Swanson) Peterson, Garrett Peterson and soon to be born great grandchild.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Emil T. Peterson, and Ruth (Krause) Peterson.

We will celebrate Don’s life in the spring of 2025. Arrangements are pending. Memorial gifts may be made payable to the “Presbyterian Foundation” at Covenant Presbyterian Church to support the Don and Marion Peterson Ministry Fund, which assists children, families in need, victims of domestic abuse, or a charity of your choice. Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com.