Peterson left legacy of helping preserve community history

What many people know about the history of Saukville, they know thanks to Jim Peterson, a local historian who, along with his brother, collected and recorded many of the stories and artifacts of the village’s events, people and legacy.

James D. Peterson died Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Milan Estates Assisted Living in Saukville. He was 81.

Mr. Peterson was born on Dec. 17, 1936, at the Milwaukee County Children’s Home to Palmer and Clara Peterson. He was one of a set of triplets with his brother, John, and sister, June. They were the first set of triplets born at the home.

 
The children were raised in foster homes but stayed in touch all their lives. Mr. Peterson and his brother, John, grew up in Saukville together and attended Port Washington High School. Following graduation in 1954, Jim Peterson enlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed in New York, where he worked as a cook for four years. He returned to Saukville afterward to be with John, who was stricken by polio and confined to a wheelchair. Jim Peterson went to work for  Freeman Chemical.

John died in 2001.

The brothers were avid history buffs, collecting photographs, postcards and other local history.

They recorded the history of Saukville through pictures and artifacts. This information was eventually published in a book in 2003 entitled, “Saukville, A Photo History.” That book was published with the assistance of Joseph Zurawski.

Another book by Jim Peterson, “Saukville at a Glance,” contains more than three dozen thumbnail histories of village landmarks and businesses, some of which no longer exist or have changed dramatically.

Mr. Peterson presented a copy of that book  to the Village of Saukville in 2015.

Proceeds from the sale of that book went to benefit the Saukville Historical Society.

Three additional publications he wrote detailed the history of the United Church of Christ in Wisconsin, its ministers and the stained-glass windows of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Saukville.

The Peterson brothers also documented the history of Land O’ Lakes baseball, area basketball and local Boy Scouts.

Collecting photos and postcards were a passion for the Petersons.

In a 2015 article, Jim Peterson told the Ozaukee Press that “If I heard someone had some old photos of Saukville, I would ask if I could make copies,” costing about $10 to make a negative.

 “If I saw someone had an old postcard we wanted, we would think nothing of paying $100 for it,” he said. “We knew no one else would pay that much for it.”

The brothers formed a team, with Jim doing “the legwork” and John typing up the names and “all the information we could get,” Jim Peterson said.

Mr. Peterson donated their collection of thousands of photos, postcards and other historical memorbilia over the last three years to the Oscar Grady Library in Saukville, where it is available for viewing.

In a Facebook post last week, Library Director Jen Gerber said of Mr. Peterson: “The Library lost a very good friend on Wednesday. He was a friend to me and my staff, personally, and the most loyal of library patrons.”

Anne Kertscher, president of the Saukville Historical Society, said Jim Peterson was passionate about Saukville.

“He felt like it was his home. He felt the historical society was the place to keep that love for a town that gave him a home,” she said.

As a lifetime member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ (presently Parkside Community UCC), Mr. Peterson was very involved in church activities, especially the annual rummage sale and maintenance of the church facilities.

Mr. Peterson is survived by his sisters Irene Schroeder of Milwaukee and Diane (Patrick) McNulty of Delafield. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings John, June, Marion, Donald and Richard.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov 16, at Parkside Community UCC in Saukville.

Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service.

A private burial will be held.

Memorials are suggested to Parkside Community UCC or a charity of the donor’s choice.  

Eernisse Funeral Home assisted the family.