James Dean ‘Jim’ Peterson

Thursday, April 16, 2020
James Dean ‘Jim’ Peterson

James Dean ‘Jim’ Peterson, 73, died April 14, 2020, at his home. He was born April 16, 1946, in Fort Scott, the son of James H. and Doris M. (Dennison) Peterson.

Jim graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1964 and Pittsburg State University in 1968. He taught industrial arts at Highland Park High School in Topeka for a number of years. In 1979, Jim moved to Hutchinson to become the fixed operations manager for RZ Sims Chevrolet. In 1982, he realized his dream, with Sharon’s help, and opened Jim’s Water & Woods, Inc., which they ran for 35 years, before retiring in 2017.

Jim enjoyed utilizing Saturday mornings for a 30-minute radio show advertising the business. His “partner in crime” for the show was Barbara Withrow. They had lots of fun on-air moments and trading barbs, all while advertising the business. Many people thought they were married because of their great chemistry. More than once, Sharon heard people in the grocery store discussing Jim and his wife, Barbara. It always tickled her.

Jim was past president of the Kansas Builders Association and past member of Prairie Pups motorcycle club. He was an avid Goldwing rider and his motorcycle “posse” included C.J. Lett, Don Sturgeon, Lloyd Nunns, Craig Barkley, Tom Westfall, Ted Robinson, and Dale Horn.

Jim loved playing couples golf on Wednesday nights with friends and on Fridays playing with his Willowbrook friends. He was of the Baptist faith.

Jim loved to lead family adventures like 4-wheeling, fishing for big crappie in farm ponds, catching turtles and finding cow bones on hunting trips, taking long road trips - like the infamous one to Padre Island - and determining who could eat the most steak at the Hoffbrau restaurant in Dallas.

The first trout fishing trip as a blended family was rough, to say the least. Six people in Sharon’s Monte Carlo on a five-plus hour drive to Bennett Springs, Mo. The fishing licenses for all were picked up and everyone had waded out into the water. All heads turned as Tracy, age 8, exclaimed she got one! Indeed she had a fish in her net - without casting her pole. She had just put her net in the water and scooped up one of the trout swimming around them. That’s when Jim taught Tracy her first important trout-fishing lesson: “You have to catch the fish on a hook.” Sharon still remembers the confused look on Tracy’s face as all laughed hysterically, while the serious anglers around them glared. There were so many more fishing lessons from Jim to follow, including putting the bait on the hook and cleaning the fish.

Jim and Sharon were known to get into disputes about facts on family trips which couldn’t wait to be settled. This was pre-internet days. At least once, a stop had to be made at a small town roadside library to prove to Jim it was Franklin DELANO Roosevelt, not Franklin DELANOR Roosevelt, among many others.

“Grandpa Jim” loved spending time with his grandchildren, including teaching his grandson, Andrew, to drive before he had a license, going on donut runs, eating big brunches at Prairie Dunes, and building/fixing all kinds of things.

On July 20, 1982, Jim married Sharon L. Fletcher McKenzie in Wichita. They shared 37 years of marriage. She survives.

Also surviving are: daughters, Kristin Schweitzer (Dan), Bentonville, Ark., and Kimberly Long (Jeff), Lawrence; stepchildren, Jeffrey, and Tracy McKenzie, Wichita; grandsons, Andrew Schweitzer and Devlin Bernard; brother, John Peterson (Cathy), Springfield, Mo.; three nephews; two nieces; and many, many cousins.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; mother-and father-in-law, Robert and Lahoma Fletcher; sister-in-law, Connie Fletcher; and nephew, Daniel Fletcher.

Cremation has taken place. A private family graveside service will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. A public celebration of Jim’s life will take place this summer. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorials are suggested to Hutchinson Community Foundation, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

“I like to think Jim is somewhere on that Goldwing right now, just straight blazin' down some empty desert highway, with a big ball of sun on the horizon, and smilin' all the way home.” – Jeff McKenzie.

There is a larger-than-life-sized hole in the universe today.