Forest “Pete” W. Peters Jr., 98, of Hoopeston, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Heritage Health, in Hoopeston.

Pete was born on August 27, 1923, in Hoopeston, Illinois, the son of Forest and Elma (Unger) Peters Sr.  He married Mary E. Sheets on August 3, 1942, in Missouri.  She preceded him in death on October 15, 2020.

He is survived by one daughter- Jinnie (Don) Johnson of Aledo, Illinois; two sons- Jon Peters of Laguna Vista, Texas and Joe (Tami Carter) Peters of Hoopeston, Illinois; seven grandchildren- Jami (Travis) Bohy, Jill (Nate) Baker, Judie Summarell, Dan (Clodagh) Peters, Derek Johnson, Jerod (Betsy) Peters and Jeff (Amanda Lee) Peters; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and two sisters- Katherine Boardman and Margaret Sinclair.

Pete graduated from Hoopeston High School.  Following high school, he worked at FMC until he enlisted in the United States Army.  He served in the Army, from 1943 to 1945, as a mechanic and tank driver.  After the service he worked at John Deere Iron Works. Pete later became a farmer and spent most of his life farming.  He was a member of the Hoopeston American Legion and VFW.  Pete enjoyed gardening, watching sports on TV, fishing, playing cards, riding his gator and watching his grandchildren’s ball games.  Pete loved spending his time at Corpus Christi Lake, and he never missed his 9:00 a.m. coffee breaks at McDonalds. 

According to his wishes cremation rites will be accorded and a celebration of Pete and Mary’s life will be held in late July.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Bismarck-Henning Rossville-Alvin Athletic Department.  The family has entrusted the Blurton Funeral Home, in Hoopeston to assist them in honoring Pete’s life.  Condolences may be shared with the family on his everlasting memorial page at:  www.BlurtonFuneralHomes.com.