David Peterson Obituary

Durango resident David Linn Peterson died Friday, June 14, 2013, in Denver. The cause of death was an infection contracted after a successful bone marrow transplant to treat acute myeloid leukemia. He was 52.

Mr. Peterson, who went by "Dave," was born March 16, 1961, in Warren, Mich. He grew up in Milford, Mich., where he graduated from Lakewood High School in 1979.

He met his future wife, Michele Miele Peterson, at Michigan State University, where he majored in food-service management. They married Sept. 1, 1984, and moved to Durango in January 1999.

Mr. Peterson worked in college food service for 15 years, eventually becoming the food-service manager for Sodexo Campus Dining at Fort Lewis College.

Since 2005, he owned and operated Blimpie Subs in the Durango Walmart.

Mr. Peterson's family said he was known for his wonderful smile, infectious laugh and love of family.

A true family man and outdoorsman, he spent time with his children, Jonny and Kali, in all types of weather. His family said that on winter weekends, you could find the three of them on the ski slopes. In the warmer months, he loved watching his children as they competed on the soccer field and volleyball court.

"Dave often accompanied Kali to concerts in the 'big' city and even learned to appreciate most of her music," they said.

Mr. Peterson spent every spare moment in recent years on the golf course. He was extremely excited when his wife Michele took up the game of golf as part of their "empty-nest" activities, and he especially enjoyed successfully competing as a couple in Hillcrest tournaments. On a golf vacation to Taos, N.M., with Michele in summer 2012, Dave made his first hole in one.

Mr. Peterson loved to cook and earned a stellar reputation for his grilling abilities on both the barbecue and panini grills.

He requested that his ashes be scattered on a beautiful ski mountain by his children, on a lush golf course by his closest golf friends and on a Canadian fishing trip by his high school buddies.

Dave is survived by his wife of almost 29 years, Michele Peterson of Durango; children Jonathan and Kali Peterson both of Denver; parents Linn and Sharon Peterson of Grand Rapids, Mich.; sister Shari Kelsey of Erie, and brother Eric Peterson of Grand Rapids, Mich.

A celebration of Mr. Peterson's life will take place at 2 p.m. Aug. 3, 2013, at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Be The Match, the national bone marrow registry, at bethematch.org, or to a charity of one's choice.