Donald R. Peters

Donald R. Peters, 79, of Pittsville, passed away on March 7, 2026, at Marshfield Medical Center surrounded by his family.

Born on September 5, 1946, in Cresco, Iowa, to Fridolin and Veronica (Korger) Peters, Donald moved with his family to Pittsville in 1950. He graduated from Pittsville High School in 1964 and studied welding at Wisconsin Rapids Tech School. He began his career at Harnischfeger Corporation in Milwaukee before returning to Pittsville, where he worked for 38 years as a heavy equipment operator with the Wood County Highway Department. It was during this time that he met Diane Strigel, and they married on November 14, 1970. Diane passed away on October 16, 2001. In 2005, Donald married Kathleen (Glaman) Jones, who survives him.

After retiring, Donald continued to stay active, assisting local farmers with planting and harvesting, working 26 years for the Town of Wood mowing ditches each summer, and spending two weeks every fall for 25 years working on cranberry marshes alongside his brother Bob. He found great joy in gardening, being outdoors, and hunting. A longtime member of St. Joachim Catholic Church in Pittsville, he was known as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Donald was a dedicated worker who always needed to be busy and was quick to help anyone in need.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy; children Renee (Dennis) Sweere of Appleton and James (Chris) Peters of Pittsville; stepchildren Scott Jones of Milwaukee and Stacey (Zahir) Rashid of Madison; grandchildren Allison (Reece) Piotter and Luke (Maci McElwee) Sweere; step-grandchildren Skylar, Olivia, and Sophia Rashid, Tahzeeb Rashid, Naureen Rashid, Nicole (Tom) Barg and their children Elliot, Arlo, and Noah, Scott (Chase) Worlund and their son Max, and Skye (Reese) Bakken and their children Grant and Garrett; and siblings Robert (Kate) Peters, Glen (Terri) Peters, Diane (Timothy) Martin, Linda (Wayne) Miller, and Karen (Dennis) Rossow, along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Diane (Strigel) Peters.