Janet Peterson

Madison - Janet K. Peterson, 75, passed Sunday 6th, 2025, at St. Mary's Hospital. Janet was born in Platteville, Wisconsin to Joseph and Dorothy (Tremaine) Dobson on April 6th, 1950, with her twin Brother James Dobson. She was baptized by the Methodist Church in Arthur, Wisconsin and Confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in Cobb, Wisconsin. Janet grew up in Cobb where her family ran the J&D Cafe. At the cafe she and her sister Bonnie peeled loads of potatoes for french fries. She learned from her mother how to bake pies and Cornish Pasty. Janet's delicious carrot cake was always enjoyed at many family functions. As a child Janet liked to make paper dolls by cutting dresses from old catalogs, she sewed and at one time exhibited at the Iowa County Fair in Mineral Point. Janet did some babysitting and also worked in the Cobb Canning Factory. In school, penmanship was important, and Janet had beautiful handwriting. After graduating from Iowa-Grant High School in 1968, she also studied at Platteville and Stout Universities. She moved to Madison with her sister Bonnie and worked in the catalog department at Sears on East Washington Avenue and at the relocation in West Towne Mall. Janet's commitment to detail made her a valued employee at all of her jobs. She worked as a teller for Anchor Bank on the Capitol Square, Shopko in the women's and children's department at South Towne, Woodman's East Building doing Hallmark cards and the Webcrafters Credit Union. Janet sold AVON for many years, meeting many neighbors and making friends. Her focus earned her multiple Mrs. Albee awards.

On October 15th, 1977, Janet married David Palmer Peterson at Peace Lutheran Church in Cobb, Wisconsin and honeymooned with a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in their 808 Mazda Mizer. Together they enjoyed camping, picnics, dancing, concerts, bowling, skiing, gardening and riding Dave's 750CC Suzuki to Yellowstone. Janet valued her family above all else as a loving mother to her children Eric and Holly. She was very proud of their talents and supported Eric's fantastic passion for art and Holly's exemplary hairdressing skills. Janet loved family get-togethers with Dorothy, Bonnie, Lana and Lana's daughter Jenna Dobson and others playing UNO, dominos, cards and board games. Euchre was always a favorite too. David could sometimes beat her at cribbage or double solitaire, but never at Rummy 500.

Janet loved her grandchildren endlessly, Elvyria Jean and Tiberius James Wigglesworth, and using her great skill at buying thoughtful gifts, she gave clothes for the holidays and princess outfits to Elvyria. She had great satisfaction in giving gifts to others. She always bought clothes for those she loved to make them look their best. She also had strong connections to the family's dogs, Missy, Birdie, Zoey, Emmy, Rusty, Winston, Mowgli and the cat Dasha, and always included them during the holidays with gifts and treats. An avid gardener, Janet loved her flower gardens and every Mother's Day she would help teach granddaughter Elvyria to plant flowerpots with abundant foliage from garden centers. Teaching Elvyria about flower care and potting was a great pleasure for her.

On December 17, 1995, Janet and David were confirmed into the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and through many subsequent Bible studies Janet taught Sunday School with her focus on detail. The family of Janet would like to acknowledge the many visits to the hospital by Pastor Shaun Arndt and others at this time who shared the Gospel, prayed, and sang hymns. To God be the Glory.

Janet is survived by her husband David, children Eric David Peterson and Holly Rebecca (Patrick) Wigglesworth, grandchildren, Elvyria Jean and Tiberius James Wigglesworth, sister Bonnie Dobson-Lamp, brother James (Lana) Dobson, and Aunt Betty Schmit. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Joe Dobson. 

The wake will be held on Friday May 9th from 5 to 8 PM, and the church service is Saturday May 10th at 12 noon with both taking place at Peace Lutheran Church, 1007 Stonehaven Drive, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 53590. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Peace Ev. Lutheran Church or Humane Society of Dane County.