John D. Peltonen

IRON BELT, Wis. - John D. Peltonen, 80, of Island Lake Road, Iron Belt, died peacefully Sunday, May 3, 2015, in his home, with his loving wife and brother by his side, following a courageous two-year battle with cancer.

John was born Dec. 6, 1934, in Ironwood, Mich., son of the late John and Esther (Makela) Peltonen, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1952. He was employed at the Ahonen Lumber Co. in Ironwood for several years, and as a press operator at the Hamilton Co. in Manitowoc, prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army and serving in Germany from 1958 through 1959.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army, John returned to Manitowoc and moved to West Allis in 1960, where he was employed as a millwright at Press Steel Tank for 22 and a half years. He then worked as a millwright/machinist at A.O. Smith Co. in Milwaukee for four and a half years and at Briggs & Stratton Co. from 1987 to his retirement in 1997. Moving to Iron Belt that same year, John built his present home on Island Lake.

While serving in the Army, John was an excellent softball pitcher. He also pitched in softball leagues in Manitowoc and West Allis. An avid fisherman and bowler, he enjoyed casting competition team events in West Allis and bowled in West Allis leagues. He also enjoyed golfing and hunting, and was a ski jumper during his high school years in Ironwood.

On Aug. 21, 1954, John married the former Joan Jackson in Ironwood. She preceded him in death on July 1, 1992.

He then married Jean Brennan on May 14, 2005, on the St. Croix River in Stillwater, Minn. She survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Mark, New Berlin, Scott, Montreal, and John (Sarah), Rockton, Ill .; five granddaughters; one great-grandson; six step children, Joseph (Helen) Brennan, Stillwater, Katherine (Gordon) Luebker, Maiden Rock, William (Raenell) Brennan, Delafield, Rebecca (Joseph) Haymaker, Verona, Michael (Krista) Brennan, McKinney, Texas, and Laura Brennan (Brooke), Fairfield, Conn .; ten step grandchildren; two brothers, Robert, Muskego, and William (Cathy), The Villages, Fla .; and a sister, Evelyn (Gene) Baratone, Manitowoc.

Besides his parents and first wife, John was predeceased by two sisters-in-law, Betty Peltonen in 2000 and Susan Peltonen in 2014.

Out of respect for his wishes, cremation has taken place.

Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2015, at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood. Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Chips Paulson, Regional Hospice Services chaplain, officiating.

Luncheon will follow at the Iron Nugget in downtown Hurley.

Private inurnment will be in Prairie Home Cemetery, Waukesha.

Memorial contributions may be made to Essentia Health Oncology, 1625 Maple Lane, Ashland, WI 54806, or Regional Hospice Services, 100 S. Mill St., Bessemer, MI 49911.

John's obituary can be viewed online and condolences given to his family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.