Martha Jean (Gschwendtner) Peterson

Martha Jean (Gschwendtner) Peterson, 94, of Harvard, died Monday, June 2, 2025, at Valley HI Nursing Home in Woodstock, IL after a long struggle with vascular dementia.

She was born October 27, 1930, in Pontiac, IL, to Francis and Carrie (Battice) Gschwendtner. She married Richard Peterson on July 18, 1953, in Pontiac.

Martha graduated from the University of Illinois in 1952 and moved to Harvard to teach Home Economics at Harvard High School.

After their wedding, Martha joined her husband, Dick, on the dairy farm where together they worked hard to expand their farm and raise their eight children. Martha and Dick loved spending time with their family, attending the many grandkids activities and traveling the world. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Dunham Ladies Coffee Klatsch in Harvard. After Dick’s death, Martha kept herself busy with attending numerous church and community activities.

Martha was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dick, her parents, Francis and Carrie Gschwendtner, her sister, Carol Eversoll and her two brothers, Paul and Roger Gschwendtner.

Survivors include; one sister, Jane (Stan) Whiteman, her eight children, Mary Peterson of Berwyn, Thomas (Susie) Peterson of Lake in the Hills, Patricia (Dan) Paffhausen of New Berlin, WI, James (Barb) Peterson of Capron, Deborah (Mark) Bossmann of Flower Mound, TX, Barbara (Greg) Henderson of Fort Myers, FL, Bill (Mary) Peterson of Harvard and Jacqueline Peterson (Karlos LaSane) of Las Vegas, NV; 19 grandchildren, Megan (Victor Soto) Wroclawski, Sam Lopata and Ben Lopata, Valerie (Rudy) Herceg and Mike (Molly) Peterson, Dave (Jeana) Paffhausen,  Mathew Paffhausen, Amanda (Nate) Pollard, Danielle (Rob) Sackett and Nicholas Paffhausen, Natasha Peterson (David Woloch), Jim (Jordan) Bossmann, Joe Bossmann and Carolyn Bossmann, Ted (Augusta) Henderson and Amy (David) Williams, and Nikki (Skyler) Johnson, Kyle (Alex) Peterson and Jordan Peterson (fiancé Zach Edwards); and  24 great-grandchildren.

Martha’s family would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Elissa Pentland. She was Martha’s caregiver and very dear friend for many years. She lovingly cared for mom with compassion and dignity.

The family held a private visitation at Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home and a private funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 206 E. Front St., Harvard on Friday, June 6, 2025. Father Paul White officiated.

Interment was in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Harvard, IL.

Friends and relatives may sign online guest book at www.saundersmcfarlin.net.
 

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