Jerry Peterson

Jerry’s Story:

Jerry arrived in West Palm Beach Florida on June 14, 1943, to parents Jerry Sr and Yvonne Peterson.  After several years the family moved to Kansas City, Mo, where he lived ever since.

He went to Southwest High School and graduated in 1961.

 It was during high school that his love of cars began when he souped up a 1955 way cool Chevy. He and his buddies spent many hours under the hood, and at the drag strip. 

 In later teen years, he acquired an old 1952 Jaguar in need of some serious tlc.  He spent countless hours nurturing and restoring it. When it was finally done, he entered it in the prestigious car show, Concours d’ Elegance, and was rewarded with a blue ribbon and trophy.

His recent favorite car is a 1996 F355 Spider yellow Ferrari, an interest he shared with his son-in-law Lou. He painstakenly restored every detail and took great pride in bringing it back to “perfect”.  It now sits, clean and shiny, protected by its own form fitting cover.

Somewhere along the line he developed a keen interest in the universe of high end stereo and listening to beautiful music.  He acquired exquisite, elite stereo equipment and enjoyed a small circle of fellow stereo buffs who became very dear friends.

This was a hobby that fed his soul.

Before he moved to Lees Summit Mo, where he had lived all his later years, he lived in a picturesque A-frame house at Lake Lotawana Mo and enjoyed boating and all the various water sports.  His parents had moved to the Lake also, and there were many, many happy times at the lake .He took great pride in developing the landscaping around his property, and many times boaters would applaud as they passed by.

It was his desire to someday own a lake house again, and in 2017 he finally realized his dream. It was a very unique home with a lighthouse attached, sitting on its own private peninsula, a setting that Jerry loved. This time, boaters would wait to hear the infamous lighthouse fog horn before happily passing by. He shared many enjoyable trips to his dream house with a dear friend and with family.

His lifelong career began early as an apprentice for an architectural firm. They soon recognized his budding brilliance and natural aptitudes, and took great interest in teaching and mentoring him. Eventually he became a full fledged licensed architect and structural engineer. Through the years he worked for several firms and eventually landed at Ellerbe Becket, where he worked the better part of 20 years and retired from there with honors in 2011. Ellerbe Becket restored, designed, and built arenas and sports stadiums around the country – Madison Square Garden, Boston Garden, Lambeau Field, Seattle Sea Hawks – to name just a few. His pride and joy was Lambeau Field in Green Bay Wisconsin since he was the principle designer. So next time you watch the Green Bay Packers play football at home, proudly think of Jerry.

In early March, Jerry told us that it was soon time for him to “go home”. 

His journey was just as he had wanted. In his own lovely home. In his own 4 post bed. Surrounded by loving family. 

He is survived by his devoted caregiver and mother of his children, Lillyan Peterson Storm; his daughters, Angela Nunez, Sherri Boyer and husband Lou; grandchildren Luke Nunez, Chance and Cirrus Boyer; his sister, Gail Osbourn and husband George; his niece Heather Faudel and her children, Karli, Joe, and Karli’s husband Kyle.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64145 or American Cancer Society, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64105

Our feelings for Jerry are unspeakable.

We loved him so much.

We will miss him so much.

He left us with a little smile, and we know that he is joyous now,

home at last.

March 10, 2019, 7:11 pm