Willard "Willie" Peterson

Willard “Willie” Peterson, age 85 of Owatonna, MN formerly of Faribault, MN, passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025 at the Benedictine Living Community in Owatonna, MN.

Willard (Willie) Earl Peterson, born in Waterville, November 10, 1939. Willard (Butch) to his family, was born to Myrtle and Earl Peterson. He had one brother, Clifford born in 1937. He also had an older half-sister, Genevieve, Jenny Miller, who passed in 2023 and an older half-brother, Lester, who was killed in the War in Korea in 1950. Willie had (what he called the best childhood ever) growing up in Waterville. He played with his friends in the woods near their home winter and summer. In high school he played football, went to the State competition in Track and won third place. He also won a talent show at school imitating Elvis Presley!

At 17, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve where he remained for 23 ½ years retiring at the rank of E8, Master Sargeant. In Sept. 1960, he married Mary Ann Meyers at the Catholic Church in Le Center. They had a daughter, JoAnn Marie and a son, Michael Willard. They later divorced. Michael passed in 2022 leaving a son, Tanner, a daughter, Michaela and a second son, Evan.

In 1984 he married Cheryl Schema Kotek at the Sacred Heart Church in Faribault. Willie also became a step-father to Cheryl’s daughter, Brenda. Cheryl and Willie enjoyed 40+ years of marriage. They vacationed in California, New York, Rhode Island, Ohio (Joann and husband Dave and son Caden’s home), Tennessee, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Hawaii and North Carolina (Michael and families’ home), and the Caribbean, often with the kids and grandchildren. They also spent many winters in Florida.

Willie retired from the Minnesota Academy for the Blind in 1997 after 38 ½ years with some of those years at the Minnesota School for the Deaf also. He started in maintenance, became a Bus Driver and transported the student to many sporting events, maintained the school vehicles and later was Building Maintenance supervisor at both the academies. Willie was a talented painter and has many portraits and landscapes painted in oil. He regularly participated in the art competition at the Steele County Fair placing First place and two third place winners. He also bowled twice a week at Sparetime Bowling Center in Owatonna and played shuffleboard and pool at the senior center. He also played pickleball. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Faribault and Owatonna and was a member of the Elks in both Faribault and Owatonna for 40 years. He was a PER (Past Exalted Ruler) in Faribault 1166. He was the Chaplain and a trustee at Owatonna 1395. He also participated in the State and National Senior Games and has two displays of medals won while participating in shuffleboard and bowling.

Willie is survived by his wife of 40 years, Cheryl; his daughter, JoAnn (Dave) Bjorklund and grandson, Caden of Ohio; his step-daughter, Brenda (Chris) Bednar, and grandchildren, Julian, Mattise and Chloe of Owatonna; his three grandchildren, Tanner Peterson, Kaela (Paul) Rill, and Evan (Gwyn) of North Carolina; brother-in-law Michael (Sue) Schema; sister-in-law, Kim Schema; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Michael Peterson; brother, Clifford Peterson; and brother-in-law, Roger A. Schema.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 10:30 A.M. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Owatonna, MN. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Faribault, with military honors provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Association.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault and will continue from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. on Friday prior to Mass at church.

Funeral arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.