Wayne L. Peterson was born at home on Nov. 23, 1935, to Everett and Hazel (Long) Peterson of Glenwood City, Wisc. He died at home on Feb. 28, 2015.
Wayne spent his childhood years on Valley View Farm in the township of Glenwood. He graduated from Glenwood City High School in 1953. During his school years he was active in FFA, the church youth group, 4-H and band. Summers were spent working on the farm, haying, gardening and milking. Summer was also a time for fishing, family trips, the St Croix County Fair and the Wisconsin State Fair.
After graduating from high school, Wayne attended UW-River Falls where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. Wayne also served in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Georgia for two years. Upon his honorable discharge, Wayne took a position in the Registrar's Office at UW-River Falls, commuting from Glenwood City, which allowed him to continue helping on the family farm. He took a leave of absence from UW-River Falls to attend the University of Northern Iowa where he earned his Master's Degree.
He then accepted a position in Student Services at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. While at Wright State University he spent a year in Brazil with the school's cultural exchange program. Upon his retirement, he returned to Glenwood City and lived on the home farm, which became a Century Farm in 1999. He was very active in the community as a founding member of the Glenwood Area Historical Society, a member of Glenwood United Methodist Church, St. Croix County Fair Board, the Master Gardeners Association, Glenwood City Cemetery Association, Glenwood City Area Chamber of Commerce, the local FFA Alumni Chapter and various other community activities. Wayne was honored as the Grand Marshal of the annual Rustic Lore celebration in 2010.
Wayne was very proud of his Swedish heritage, spending time researching the family's genealogical roots and traveling to the original family homestead in Sweden with his parents. One of his great joys was providing scholarships and mentoring the young men that worked for him on the farm during the summer months. These young men, whom he thought of and cared for as sons, helped him prepare the farm for his annual Concerts in the Country, church services, weddings and family reunions that took place on the Petersons' Valley View Farm.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents Everett and Hazel Peterson. He is survived by his sister Beverly Spinti and husband Robert; two nieces Dianne (Gordon) Roth and Dawn (Robert) Knops; a nephew James (Debbie) Spinti and their families. He is further survived by his extended family and close friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Wayne's honor to the Glenwood Area Historical Society, Friends of the St. Croix County Fairgrounds, Glen Hills Parish United Methodist Church, or the UW-River Falls Foundation.
