Susan Peterson

Susan J. Peterson, 56, of rural Lynn Center, died Tuesday, August 24, 2010, at Trinity Rock Island. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 31st, at the Augustana Lutheran Church, Andover. Rev. Jan Veseth will officiate. Inurnment will follow in the Andover Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church. Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services, Cambridge, is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Augustana Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society.

The former Susan Jean Downing was born September 28, 1953 in Moline, the daughter of Jerry and Jean Beck Downing. She graduated from Rock Island High School in 1971. Sue then attended Western Illinois University in Macomb and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement in 1976. She worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer for the Henry County Probation Office from 1976 to 1978. Her marriage to John W. Peterson took place on March 4, 1978 in Rock Island.

In 1984, Sue began working for her family’s business, Downing Food Products, in Rock Island as an office manager. Her memberships include the Augustana Lutheran Church, Andover, where she had served as a board member, and the WELCA group of the church.

Those surviving are her husband, John, a son, Jay Peterson (fiancée, Stephanie Hart), Lynn Center, a daughter, Kristin Peterson (fiancée, John Burns), LeMars, IA, her mother, Jean Downing, Rock Island, and a brother Bruce (Robin) Downing, Rock Island. Other survivors include sisters-in-law, Carolyn (Ronald) Myers, Griggsville, IL, Phyllis (Rudy) Hoch, Greensboro, NC, Rita (Robert) Gustafson, West DesMoines, IA, and several nieces and nephews. Her father, Jerry Downing, preceded her in death.