Joseph N. Peters

Joseph N. Peters, 80, of Lansing, Michigan, passed away at home on May 29, 2024.

Joe was born November 9, 1943, in Houghton Lake, Michigan, to Adeline and Joseph Peters. Joe had 12 brothers and sisters and grew up on a rural farm in Northern Michigan. He married the love of his life, Betty, in 1994 and spent thirty years of retirement by her side. They did everything together. They farmed cattle and bison. They built barns, cut wood, fixed things, gardened, traveled, hunted, and spent almost every minute together. They worked as a team on almost everything. He loved Betty dearly and she took amazing care of him up to his last day.

His experience growing up with modest means, self-reliance, and a strong natural curiosity about anything mechanical or electrical self-taught the skills that gave him the gift of being able to fix or build almost anything. He spent much time in retirement tinkering with electric motors, engines, and anything that needed maintenance or repair. This was one of his gifts that he shared with hundreds of people he knew and loved. He would help anyone when they needed a hand.

Joe moved away from the farm at 18 years old, hitchhiked to Lansing and started as a laborer at the Lansing Board of Water and Light where he would retire as a lineman supervisor after 31 years of service. When he came to the Board of Water and Light he took the first opportunity to begin an electrical apprenticeship and served nearly 30 years installing and maintaining substations and high-voltage power distribution lines. He took great pride in his work and was very well respected by his fellow linemen for his expertise and work ethic. He was proud of his service on several national storm and hurricane assistance deployments throughout the country. His closest friends were from the Board of Water and Light and he stayed close to them until the end of his life. Joe also served as Chair of the Lansing City Electrical Board for many years.

Joe has two sons, Daniel (Myra) and Douglas; four grandchildren, Kendall Peters, Douglas Peters Jr. M.D., Genevieve Eklund, and Christopher Peters; and four great-grandchildren, Bonnie Eklund, August Eklund, Douglas Eklund, and Bo Ek.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Richard, Terry and Bobbie; sisters, infants Theresa and Lillian, Beverley Peabody, Mary Bos, and Debbie Peters; brothers-in-law, Larry Peabody, Bill Mouser, Francis Leik, and Jon Arendsen; sister-in-law, Nancy Schrauben; and stepson, Shawn Bengry.

Also surviving him are his brothers, Gary (Sandy) and Larry (Bonnie); sisters, Shirely Mouser and Carol Pierce (Mike); sisters-in-law, Pat Leik, Jan Maxwell, Sue Arendsen, Debi Bedenbender, and Shelia (Steve) Kemp; brothers-in-law, Jack (Nancy) Bedenbender and Gary Schrauben; and stepdaughter, Jodi Speck.

Joe had many close friends that have passed. Surviving friends that he loved dearly are Larry Strauser, Richard Anthony, Mary Jo Narragon (Kurt), Robert Richards (Linda), Eric Weber, Pam Amato, Douglas and Joie Whitmore, Denny and Julie Crim, Rock Sellers, Richard Ansbaugh, Carolina Peters, and Kim Nielsen.

The family would like to thank friends and family for their love and support during Joe’s end of life care. The family would also like to extend a thank you to Hospice of Lansing – Stoneleigh Residence for the wonderful care they provided for Joe.

Per Joe’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and there will be no service. Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel. Online condolences may be left for his family at www.EstesLeadley.com.