(1926-2025)
Bonham, Texas -- Roger P. Peterson, 99, a man deeply loved and admired by those whose lives he touched, passed away on October 16, 2025. His life and his character can best be described as “beyond amazing.”
Roger, often called “Huns”, a childhood nickname, by those who knew him best, was born on January 1, 1926, in Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin. He was the youngest of four children, all boys, born to Peter Jep Peterson and Martha Margaret Daeffler. His father was a first-generation immigrant from Denmark.
Roger met the love of his life, Irene Doris Marsh, in 1943 and married her on October 24, 1945 in Red Wing, Minnesota. Together, he and Irene had three children: Kevin Roger, Gwen Marie, and Maureen Kay. They were members of Diamond Bluff Methodist Church for many years.
Raised in rural Wisconsin, Roger developed an early love for everything outdoors that continued throughout his entire life. That passion led to many lifetime memberships, including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, The National Rifle Association, and the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM, of which he was a charter member, a distinction he was most proud of. He received an award at the 2024 NRA Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas for being the oldest Life Member present.
Roger and his brother, Roman Peterson, were partners in a farming operation near Prescott, Wisconsin, that lasted 50 years, allowing them to raise their families and to reach retirement age. The Peterson brothers also shared a love of hunting, guns and woodworking their entire lives.
Following the death of Irene in 1995, Roger eventually relocated to Fannin County, Texas, to be near his daughter, Maureen, and her family. His love for woodworking and the outdoors continued in Texas. He lived at Lake Bonham and enjoyed fishing there and both hunting and fishing on a separate property that he maintained in northern Fannin County. Both places became dear to his family, who referred to them as “Grampie’s” places. Many of his family members are blessed to have one or more pieces of expertly crafted wooden furniture or decorative items handmade by Roger himself, all works of love and deeply cherished. His children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all who knew him were blessed beyond measure to have enjoyed and benefited from his wisdom, wit, talents, and deep devotion for so many years.
Roger was preceded in death by both of his parents, all of his brothers, his wife, Irene, his son, Kevin, and his daughter, Gwen. Surviving him are his daughter, Maureen (Gary) Sisson, of Bells, Texas, his grandchildren, Mackenzie (Marco) Majors of Bells, Texas, and John Reeder of Rowlett, Texas, many great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives that he cared deeply for.
There will be a memorial celebration of his life on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at The Bluffs, N1833 785th St, Hager City, WI 54014.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Roger’s memory with a donation in his name to the NRA Whittington Center, P.O. Box 700, Raton, NM 87740, or online at https://www.nrawc.org/support-us/donate/ .
