Dr. John David Peterson, 84, of Fremont, OH passed away on August 4, 2023 at Valley View Health Campus. He was born on June 19, 1939 in Geneva, OH the son of Lee and Dorothy (Gore) Peterson. He was a 1957 graduate of Geneva High School. He received his B.S. in Biology from Bowling Green State University and was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. Dave then received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Ohio State University in 1964 and was a member of Psi Omega Dental Fraternity. Dave married Alyce Mae Wellman, his high school sweetheart, on June 23, 1962 at Geneva United Methodist Church. He served in the US Navy from 1964 to 1966 where he was a dentist at the Naval Air Station Agana, Guam. He received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) and the National Defense Service Medal.
After Guam, Dave and his family moved to Fremont, Ohio. Dave and Alyce loved Fremont, especially the people, and made a life full of family and friends. Dave owned and operated Peterson Dental for over forty years. When he retired in 2008 his son Andy took over the practice. He was a lifelong member of the Fremont Country Club where he was the past president and five-time club champion. He was also a longtime Fremont Outing Club Member and Fremont Rotary. He was the past president of Toledo District Golf Association. Dave had an amazing sense of humor and loved to tell jokes. He enjoyed music and playing the guitar. Dave also had his pilot license and was a military history buff. Dave had many nicknames and was known to many as “Petey”, “Driller”, “Pard”, “The Big Guy”, “Grampy” and “Oh God Dave!”.
Dave is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Alyce Peterson, Fremont; children, Jennifer Peterson, Columbus, OH, Doug (Julee) Peterson, Sylvania, OH and Dr. Andy (Emily) Peterson, Fremont; grandchildren, Caitlin (Joseph) Jacobs, Jake, Mackenzie, Josh, Ella, Chloe, Addie and Emma Peterson; great grandchildren, Connor and Elliott Jacobs and nephew, John (Angie) Carroll.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Nancy Carroll.
Visitation: Friday, August 18, 2023 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Wonderly Horvath Hanes Funeral Home and Crematory, 425 E State St., Fremont, OH.
A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with an hour of visitation prior to the service with military honors to follow provided by the VFW and American Legion.
Memorials can be made to Birchard Public Library or Hayes Presidential Center.
Please View Dave’s Memorial Video
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