Lee Peterson Obituary | May 11, 2026
Lee Allan Peterson, age 86, of Hayward, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2026, in the town he proudly called home.
Lee was born on February 13, 1940, in Duluth, Minnesota, to Levi and Magda (Olson) Peterson. He was raised in Hayward, Wisconsin, where he built a life rooted in hard work, service, and deep devotion to family.
At the age of 16, Lee made the decision to leave school and begin working at James Buick, where he rebuilt automatic transmissions. This marked the beginning of a lifelong career as a skilled and respected mechanic. He later worked at Cable Motors and B&W Chevrolet, earning a reputation for his strong work ethic and mechanical expertise. His work as a mechanic also fueled a lifelong passion for collecting and restoring cars—especially Fords. He took great pride in showcasing his vehicles in parades and car shows, where he earned many trophies over the years.
In 1959, Lee proudly joined the Wisconsin National Guard and completed six months of Basic Military Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. In 1961, he was activated during the Berlin Crisis and served at Fort Lewis in Washington for one year. His military service also included deployments to Germany and Panama. In 1967, Lee began working full-time at OMS12 at the National Guard Armory in Hayward as a Civil Service Mechanic. After 33 years of service with the National Guard, he retired in 1992 and retired from Civil Service in 1993.
On August 12, 1961, Lee married the love of his life, Paulette Rutka, in Hayward, Wisconsin. Together they built a strong and loving family, raising four children: Mike, David, Gary, and Maggie.
Lee was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife Paulette and children: Michael Peterson of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; David Peterson of Cloudcroft, New Mexico; Gary (Kaye) Peterson of Cloudcroft, New Mexico; and Maggie (Cassian Coroiescu) Peterson of Conroe, TX.
He was a proud grandfather to Eric (Grace) Peterson, Karl (Bree) Peterson, Elizabeth (Carver) Brownlee; Rebecca (Josh) Thompson, Jacob (Emmeline) Peterson, Trier Peterson; James (Becca) Wicklund, Tyler (Renee) Peterson, Jeremy (Hannah Russert) Peterson, Courtney (Shawn) Hall; and Destinie Mack, Marisa Crume, and Abigail Coroiescu.
Lee was also blessed with 15 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought him great pride and joy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Levi and Magda Peterson; his brother, John; and his sister, Marianne Eder.
Lee was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hayward, as well as a member of American Legion Post 218 and the Woodland Wheels Car Club. He enjoyed time spent with family, working with his hands, and connecting with others who shared his passion for cars and community.
Lee will be remembered for his quiet strength, unwavering work ethic, and deep love for his family. His legacy lives on through the generations he helped raise and the countless lives he touched through his service and kindness.
He never met a Ford he didn’t love.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026 at 11:00am at Trinity Lutheran Church 10576 Greysylon Dr. Hayward, WI. A visitation will be held from 10:00am until the time of the service. Burial with military honors will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery, Hayward, WI.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to Trinity Lutheran Church, American Legion Post 218, or Camp Shield, a nonprofit organization founded by Lee’s daughter, Maggie, that serves women veterans and their children by providing connection, healing, and support after military service.
