Stephen Peterson, 75, of Ottawa, passed away on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with his brother Rev. Philip Peterson, Pastor of Stavanger Lutheran Church in Seneca, officiating. Burial will follow at Stavanger Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Stephen was born on December 20, 1947 in Ottawa to Henry and Marion (Hippenmeyer) Peterson. He was a graduate of Seneca High School and Dana College in Nebraska. Stephen was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He worked as a teacher in the Ottawa Elementary School district. Stephen married Corazon “Cora” Bitos on April 2, 1991 in LaSalle County.

He was survived by his wife, Cora Peterson, of Ottawa; three children, Stephen (Norma) Ramoran, of Chicago, Sidney (Jehan) Ramoran, of NC, Christine (David) Ridley, of Spring Valley; six grandchildren; a brother, Philip Peterson, of Seneca; two sisters, Loretta Grenchik, of New Lenox, and Louise (Darwin) Classon, of Sandwich.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Marion, and his nephew, Thomas Grenchik.

Memorials may be directed to the family.