Stanley "Stan" N. Peterson, 81, of Kewanee, died Sunday, January 7, 2024, at his home, with his wife Cyndy by his side. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at Golnick-Schueneman Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at the funeral home. Pastor Terry Lancaster will officiate. Burial will be at Wethersfield Cemetery.
Stan was born October 4, 1942, in Sterling, IL, the son of Maynard and Elizabeth (Sibley) Peterson. He attended Tampico Schools, where he was a standout athlete, participating in track, basketball, football, and band. Another major influence on his high school experience was the Future Farmers of America. Stan chose sheep production as his Supervised Agriculture Experience. In 1957, Peterson Oxfords became the foundation of the future Peterson Sheep Farm.
Stan married his high school sweetheart, Gwendolyn F. Berge, on August 13, 1960. They moved to Macomb, IL to begin what would be 45 years of life together. Stan and Gwen’s union produced three children: Kim Peterson-Stiegelmeyer, Kay Luan (John) Hammer, and Stephen (Rick Slyter) Peterson. Gwen unexpectedly preceded him in death on January 13, 2005.
Stan married Cynthia Huggins Puskar on June 30, 2006. From this marriage Stan gained three adult children, Travis (Laura) Huggins, Meghan (Jaimie) Puskar, and Mallory (Travis) Kincaid. Stan was baptized as a youth in Tampico, IL, attended First Baptist Church and was a member of the Church of Peace at the time of his death.
Shortly after his marriage to Gwen, Stan began his study of Physical Education, Social Studies, and Driver’s Education at Western Illinois University. In 1964, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree and, in 1967, received his Master of Science in Education Guidance. Stan was a lifelong learner, continuing to take additional college courses over the years.
Stan’s long teaching and coaching career began in Bardolph, IL, in 1964. Taking a different teaching job in 1966, the Petersons moved their family to Kewanee, IL. During his tenure at Wethersfield Community Unit School District, Stan taught U.S. History, U.S. Government, Economics, Sociology, Junior High Social Studies and coached Baseball, Track, Football and Basketball. He was also a member of four professional education associations. Stan retired from teaching after 35 years in 1999.
In addition to teaching and coaching, Stan also mentored eight separate graduating classes through their four years of high school. In 1975, with his coaching years behind him, he began an officiating career that would span three decades. He held membership in multiple officiating associations.
It was also during his teaching career that he began impacting youth as a leader with the Wethersfield Plow Jockey 4-H Club. Raising livestock, specifically sheep, was a focus of Stan’s life. Gwen and Stan continued raising purebred Oxfords and branched out to other breeds when Kay and Stephen showed interest in livestock and raising sheep. Stan was a fixture in the showing arena as a sheep producer and mentor to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Summers in the Peterson family meant working livestock and showing sheep at up to fourteen county fairs and, some summers, the Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin State Fairs. Polled Dorsets, Southdowns, Hampshires, Natural Colored and Crossbreds along with the Oxford Downs were all breeds raised by the family over the years.
Stan was a founding member of the Henry County Lamb and Wool Association. He served as the Sheep Superintendent at the Henry County Fair for two years. He was also a member of the Illinois Lamb and Wool Producers, American Oxford Sheep Association, America Southdown Breeder’s Association, Continental Dorset Club, American Hampshire Sheep Association, and the Natural Colored Wool Growers Association.
Grandson Levy Grant Hammer preceded him in death along with his parents, sister Susan Peterson, both sets of in laws, Wilson and Ferne Berge, and Jack and Donna Huggins, brother-in-law Ted Sumner, son-in-law Loren Stiegelmeyer, step-niece Libby Berryman, a few cousins and all his aunts and uncles.
In addition to his children, left to remember Stan are his brother Stacy (Cyndy) Peterson and family, sister Sally (Doug) Gerber and family, sisters-in-law: Sharon Sumner and family; Lorraine (Terry) Gaskill and family; and Carol (Michael) Nauman and family.
Grandchildren and great-grandchildren that are left to cherish his memory are: Tyler (LaNette) Pierson, Breckane and Brigam; Kari (Terry) Hepner, Hunter, Dhylan, Madisyn, Teagan, and Kaydince; Kelsey (Ryan) Main, Kala Hammer; Drew (Rachel Moon) Stiegelmeyer, Kendall and Adalyn Smythe; Kati (Matthew) Grimes, Gwenevere, Jeremiah, Emmalee and Kassidy; Joel Hammer; Kodi (Joseph) Calhoun and Eleanor; Sydney Huggins and Marlowe; and Amelia and Sophie Huggins.
Memorials may be left to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or the American Cancer Society.
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