Harold “Pete” John Peterson

Harold “Pete” John Peterson, 92, Dodgeville, passed away, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, while a resident at Sienna Crest Assisted Living in Mineral Point.

Pete was born Dec. 18, 1933, in Cadott, to Lawrence and Isabelle (Fritsch) Peterson.

He married Verlene Martha Roder, in 1954. Together, they raised five children.

In Pete’s early years, he was a successful auctioneer. For the majority of his life, however, Pete’s career centered around the cheese manufacturing industry. His entry into cheese making was in 1952, when he began making cheese at Bob and George Hamm’s Hillside Dairy, at Cadott. While there, he worked up into the head cheese maker position.

Pete’s cheese making knowledge, along with his innovative thinking with new equipment designs, landed him a sales job with Kusel Dairy Equipment Company, in 1965. This relocated him to Dodgeville. While at Kusel, Pete was able to secure some patents on various pieces of cheese making equipment.

In 1977, Pete, along with his son and son-in-law, purchased the NFO Cheese Plant in Arena. Farmers Pride Cheese became known for the development of Co-Jack cheese. Also developed by Farmers Pride, was the centrifiner and wedge wire fines saver equipment, as well as various cheese pressing systems.

Then, in 1980 and 1981, two more cheese factories were purchased by the Farmers Pride group, adding Preston Cheese, at Preston, and Wisconsin Pride Cheese, at Soldiers Grove. These three plants, at their high point, were processing nearly 800,000 pounds of milk into specialty longhorn style cheeses a day.

He is survived by his wife – Verlene Peterson; children – Julie (Joe) Burke, Douglas (Sandy) Peterson, Janene (Dan) Marklein, Mark (Sara) Peterson and Rhonda (Steve) Marten; grandchildren – Jared (Desiree) Burke, Jennifer Franks, Jeremy (Megan) Burke, Joshua (Misty) Bindl, Sara (Thad) Johnson, Nicolas (Courtney) Peterson, Benjamin Peterson, Melanie Marklein, Jessie (Tracey) Dunn, Kari (Dan) Lawver, Kory (Katie) Peterson, Kelsey (Evan) Havlik, Kelli (Jared) Standorf, Eiroll Polinag, Clair (Daniel Ramos) Polinag, SaraMae Polinag, Duncan Marten and Grace (Sydney) Buckingham; 34 great-grandchildren, plus one due in May; and many nieces; nephews and other family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Isabelle Peterson; grandchild, Jason Burke; sisters: Florence (Ed) Ryan, Irene (Don) Mousel, Geraldine (Edsel) Evjen, Eleanor (Ellis) Evjen, and Loraine (Dennis) Newhorter; brothers: Duane Peterson, Richard Peterson, Bernard (Mary Joy) Peterson; father- and mother-in law, Sam and Martha Roder; brother-inlaw, Irvin (Anita) Roder; and sister-in-law, Geraldine “Shorty” (Robert Boyea and Clarence) Seichter.

Per Pete’s wishes, a private family service will be held, and he will be interred at Eastside Cemetery in Dodgeville.

Lulloff-Peterson-Houck Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Online condolences may be expressed at houckfuneralhomes. com. Special thanks to the staff at Sienna Crest Assisted Living and the nurses of Agrace, for the assistance with Pete’s painless and peaceful transition into his next journey.

In lieu of cards and/or flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the charity of your choice.