Barbara Sue Peterson

Barbara “Sue” Peterson Age ­­93, of Wadsworth, IL, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 24, 2025 at home surrounded by her loving family.

She was born July 29, 1932 in Fayette, AL, and moved to Waukegan. IL in 1955 and later moved to Wadsworth, IL in 1966. While in her junior year of high school, Sue also attended college full-time to study education to be a school teacher. Sue pursued, and earned her degree, at the age of 19 years old. Upon graduation, Sue became a K-8th teacher and she took her first teaching job in Port Saint Joe, FL.

When moving to Wadsworth, Sue worked for Newport Elementary School as a short-term substitute teacher at various grade levels. Sue loved children and enjoyed volunteering as a Brownie - Girl Scout leader and a 4H Leader. Also, during this time her and her husband, Jack Peterson, owned and operated J. W. Peterson in Waukegan where she was a bookkeeper.

Her passions were many, she was an avid reader, loved to learn, and she enjoyed watching and competing with her son-in-law while watching the game show Jeopardy. In her fun time, she loved to play piano, sing, being an artist, traveling with family. Besides books, what she fervently loved and focused on, was gardening, cooking (whether it be for 2 or 22), playing the piano, drawing, and painting, made props for school plays, she also enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crochet. Sue was all about family and friends, what she cherished most, was when everyone was able to gather together.

On May 14, 1955 she married Jack L. Peterson in Panama City Beach, FL. In Sue’s early years she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She loved reading the Bible daily and found it to be a privilege to pray for people whether it was around a dinner table or at any other time. Her love for the Lord was evident to all she came in contact with.

Sue, beloved wife of Jack Peterson for 57 years, is survived by her daughters Kay Lynn (Cecil) Scales of Kenosha, WI and Joan Boone of Winthrop Harbor, IL, six grandchildren, Christina (Joe) Cabadas of Kenosha, WI, Jennifer (Jared) Brayshaw of Greendale, WI, Jeffrey Scales and fiancé (Kayla Domanico) both in the area of Kenosha, WI, Lyndsie (David) Gourley of Montgomery, TX, Lana Norman (Janet Vidales) of Pleasant Prairie, WI, and Leigh (Jake) Jones of Winthrop Harbor, IL, many great-grandchildren and sister Linda of Fayette, AL. Sue was preceded in death by her husband Jack, her son Jay, and her brother Kenneth Lawrence. She leaves behind many dear friends whom she cherished spending time with. Many will miss her warm smile and generous heart.

Graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Mount Olivet Memorial Park, 1436 Kenosha Road in Zion, IL. Lunch will be immediately after the service and will be held at Stone Creek Grill, 206 Sheridan Rd in Winthrop Harbor, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Kenosha Bible Church - Celebrate Recovery, 5405 67th Street Kenosha, WI 53142 would be appreciated.