Kathleen "Kass" (Tallman) Peterson

           Kathleen “Kass” Peterson, age 101, went to be with the Lord Tuesday morning, March 28, 2023, at her home under the loving care of generations of her family and North Woods Hospice. She was born to Rudolph and Hattie (Wilson) Tallman on January 24, 1922, in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Kass grew up in Fairport, Michigan, the daughter of a commercial fisherman. She graduated from Garden High School in 1941. Kass married Howard C. Peterson on October 22, 1942, and together raised their five children. Their family lived in Detroit for a while and in 1954, their young family returned to Howard’s hometown of Munising. They opened and operated Waterfront Cabins until 1965. The family moved briefly to California in 1966 but returned to open Peterson’s Paint Store with Howard’s brother. Kass and Howard later opened their own paint store, Peterson’s Decorating (Pittsburgh Paint Store) where Kass ran the store and Howard painted. Away from the store and paint jobs, they enjoyed spending time with their family dancing the night away at the Moose Lodge in Munising and the Marquette Armory. In their retirement, they spent twenty-five years wintering in Lakeland, Florida. They were married over sixty years when Howard preceded her in death on January 24, 2003. Kass was a faithful member of Sacred Heart church and prayed the rosary daily. She was a talented seamstress who made numerous items for her daughters, granddaughters, and their dolls. Kass enjoyed playing cards with family and friends, exercise classes in Florida, bowling league, trips to the casino, and nightly competitive games of Yahtzee with her family.

            Kass is survived by four children – Barbara (Ted) Fulcher, James Peterson, Gregory (Sharon) Peterson, all of Munising, and Kelly Peterson, of Marquette; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-seven great grandchildren; eight great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Howard, daughter and son-in-law Kay and Richard St. Amour, and siblings Burton, Ronald, Ethelyn “Essie,” Annabelle “Annie,” James “Jim,” Robert “Bob,” Royal “Bud,” and Roger.

            Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church with Father Michael Ocran officiating on Monday, April 3, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow in LaMothe Hall following Mass. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising at a later date.  Kass will be escorted by Gabby Muraski, Patric Moncalieri, Greg Peterson, Jr., Todd Fulcher, Mikayla Martin, and Christoffer Martin. 

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