Jerry Peterson Obituary

Jerry A Peterson

Jerry A Peterson of Eagle, ID, met his Maker on January 7, 2022.

Jerry was born May 30, 1944 in Missoula, MT to Vaughn and Ruby Peterson, the 2nd of three children. He spent an active and fun childhood growing up in the Orchard Homes area of Missoula, participating in many sports, riding horses and hunting and fishing with his family and friends. He attended Hawthorne Grade School and graduated from Missoula County High School in 1962. Jerry was particularly proud of the "education" he received from his dad at Vaughn's Used Cars in Missoula, sort of a B.S. in Capitalism and Life.

He attended Oregon State University and ultimately graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1968. His 38-year career as an Engineer began in Seattle with the Washington Highway Dept. for a two-year stint, and continued in the private business of consulting engineering with several companies, taking him to Boise, ID; Indianapolis, IN; Houston, TX; Great Falls, MT; Seattle, WA and back to Boise. He retired in January 2007 from Terracon. Along the way, he was involved in many interesting and challenging projects from Texas to Alaska, becoming a specialist in the areas of Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Materials Engineering & Testing, and was a licensed professional engineer in nine states. Jerry was also involved in the management and business end of consulting, in charge of multiple offices, and served on the board of directors of Terracon and two previous firms prior to retirement. He was fortunate to work with and become friends with many talented men and women throughout his career.

Jerry was active in several technical and professional societies and was appointed to the Idaho Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors in 1997. He also served on the Idaho Public Works Contractors' License Board and the Idaho Speech and Hearing Services License Board.

He married Jeanette Stewart in March of 1968 in Bozeman. Son Eric and daughter Elke were born to that union. Jerry & Jeanette divorced in 1986. He later married Carol Lee and gained another daughter, Carrie. Jerry & Carol divorced in 2019.

Jerry never forgot his childhood passions of hunting and fishing, only setting them aside for many of his working years. He and Carol ventured on many eventful fishing trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Canada and Guatemala. Jerry also fed the passion for exotic fishing and hunting with friend Bill wherein they fished in Alaska, Costa Rica, Guatemala, The Yukon, Wisconsin, Texas and Florida. They even ventured to Florida a couple times for hog and 'gator hunting, AND fishing. For many years after retirement, Jerry belonged to the Butte Lodge Pheasant Hunting Club NW of Emmett, ID where, often accompanied by one of several friends, he hunted pheasants at least weekly every fall. As a strong supporter of our 2nd Amendment Rights, Jerry was a proud Life Member (Benefactor Level) of the NRA.

He is survived by son Eric (Chloë) Peterson in North Andover, MA, daughter Elke (Gabe Campodonico) Peterson in Oakland, CA, and stepdaughter Carrie (Doug) Kehring in Woodside,

CA, as well as grandsons Simon & Oliver Peterson, granddaughters Maggie & Katie Kehring, sister Carol Blowars (George of Hall, MT), brother Don Peterson (Wendy) of Polson, MT, and Special Friend Paula of Kennewick, WA.

At Jerry's wish, there will be no services. Charitable contributions are encouraged to The Boise Rescue Mission and worthy veterans' organizations of your choice.