Steve Peterson was born in Denison, Iowa, on April 22, 1959. He grew up and graduated from high school in Heyworth, Illinois. While in high school, he re-programed the juke box in the school cafeteria to play his favorite song, "Hooked on a Feeling".

He attended college and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1980. While at the U of I he met his wife, Jane (Long) Peterson, while in the sailing club. He always said their marriage was smooth sailing because of how they met. They married on May 21, 1983, in Iowa City, Iowa. After marrying, they moved to Essex, Connecticut and later to Newtown, Connecticut for Steve's jobs as a software engineer. While in Connecticut, he discovered a love for stained glass and continued his love for sailing. Steve and Jane bought a sailboat, Music and spent many days sailing around the coast of Connecticut.

Steve and Jane moved to Davenport, Iowa, in 1988 so he could work at Teledirect, a software development company. Two sons were born there, Nicholas Andrew Peterson in 1989 and Matthew Tyler Peterson in 1992. At that time, he also earned his Master's Degree in Computer Science from Teikyo Marycrest University in May 1993.

The family moved to West Des Moines in 1995 for Steve's job at Microware. As his sons grew, he volunteered extensively with Scouts, first as a Cub Scout leader, then as a Scoutmaster with Boy Scouts, and later as part of the Training team. He helped organize and run many Camporees. He also enjoyed camping, with his family, first in a tent then later in a pop-up camper and finally in a pull behind camper.

Steve was working for Maytag in Newton when it was bought by Whirlpool, and the family moved to Saint Joseph, Michigan, in 2007, so Steve could work at Whirlpool's headquarters. He continued volunteering with Boy Scouts in Michigan, including organizing camporees. He was a positive influence on countless boys with his dedicated leadership, patience, and dry humor. He inspired both sons to earn their Eagle Awards. He loved Dutch oven cooking and created a cookbook with delicious Dutch oven recipes for his Troop. He also enjoyed Pioneering and taught countless Scouts and adult leaders how to tie knots. Steve was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2001, and as his Parkinson's Disease progressed, he was no longer able to continue with his favorite Scout activities and went on disability.

With Steve no longer able to work, Jane and Steve moved to Knoxville in 2014 for Jane's new job as a Speech-Language Pathologist with Heartland AEA, where she currently resides. A few years ago, Steve was very happy when his sister, Dena and brother-in-law Olon joined him in Iowa to be closer to his parents.

Steve passed away on July 20, 2024.

Steve is survived by his wife Jane, sons Nick and Matthew, father Gene, sister Dena (Olon), brothers-in-law: Jeff (Jody) Long and John (Sheri) Long, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Steve's mother, Myrna (Smith) Peterson passed away July 31, 2023.

Boy Scouts of America

Knoxville First United Methodist Church
Knoxville IA

American Parkinsons Disease Assoc.
PO Box 61420, Staten Island NY 10306