John Thomas Peterson

John Thomas Peterson, age 74, of Allendale, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Thursday, February 10, 2022. John was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on April 22, 1947. His family called him Jack and he resembled the actor John Astin from the “Addams Family.” He loved to visit Green Bay and was a passionate Packers fan. John was an ordained minister and dabbled in construction, but spent most of his career as a quality automotive engineer. He had many adventures, including meeting Janis Joplin at Woodstock and running into Johnny Cash in Kalamazoo. He loved golfing with Tina and Mark, going on semi rides with Mark, train rides with his grandfather, Alfred, cooking, teaching his wife to cook, talking politics, the adventures of Scooby-Doo, Sammi’s Pizza, and was a history and trivia buff. He was a published author of two spy novels: “The Brutus Directive” and “The Desert Sanction” which can be found on Amazon.com. The fourth time’s the charm with John, after being married three times he met the love of his life, Dana. John and Dana loved to go camping at Fish Lake, bowling at Westgate, playing euchre, listening to local Grand Rapids bands, following the local Grand Rapids sports teams, and going on trips together. A couple of their favorite trips were to Disney World in 2009 and to a wedding in North Carolina in 2010. John’s favorite quote was “a stranger is a friend I haven’t met yet.” John will be forever missed. The family would like to thank Emmanuel Hospice, Chaplain David Veldt, and Dr. Christopher Shoemaker for the amazing physical and spiritual care given to John. John was preceded in death by his parents, Reynold and Dorothy Peterson; sister, Mary Monfils Bogan; father-in-law, Steven Settlemyre; sister-in-law, Karen Swartwood; grandsons, Robert Vos and Zachary Bird; best friend and mentor, Robert Carmer; and good friends, Thomas Gehl and Joseph Naperola. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 26 years, Dana (Settlemyre) Peterson; daughters, Michelle (Theodore) Suykerbuyk, Tina Clair, Naomi Parsaca; sister, Anne (Bill) Guse; grandchildren, Michael, Dakota, Veronica, Amber, Erick, Cody, Lynsey, Samantha, Nicholas, Tristen; mother-in-law, Sharon Settlemyre; brother-in-law, Mark Settlemyre; sister-in-law, Nicole (Thomas) Rydahl; aunts and uncles, Warren (Mary) Campbell, Gale (Marilyn) Campbell, James (Joan) Settlemyre, Jan (Connie) Settlemyre, Janice (Earl “Rusty”) Burch, Judith Rankin; nieces and nephews, Mercedes (Scott) Spencer, Emilee (Devin) Phenix, Keristin (Ty) Everingham, Adam Everingham, Daniel (Mariann) Gotwalt; great-niece, Elise; great-nephew, Colton; special family friends, Jake Phenix, Bryan Mulder, the Frick Family; and four fur babies, Maxx McGhee, Bart Starr, Vince Lombardi, Jordy Nelson. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Emmanuel Hospice, Paws With A Cause, or Exalta Health.