Rick R. Petersen D.O. J.D.

Rick Petersen was born in Milwaukee, WI to Glenn and Dorothy Petersen. He then went on to graduate medical and law school to become both a doctor and a lawyer, because apparently just one wasn’t good enough. Show off.

He was a member of the Baha’i Faith and as such, he advocated for social justice, equality for women, and the belief that religion and science are not mutually exclusive. He dedicated his medical career to serving communities that lacked the medical care that he felt everyone deserved. He was also a member of the Freemason’s, but we’re pretty sure that was mostly so he could annoy everyone by telling them he was in a secret society, and then refusing to discuss said secrets.

Rick loved all things associated with Wisconsin: Lakes, the Green Bay Packers, and kringle fresh from a Racine bakery.

An avid gamer, he enjoyed dominating newbs in various board games, as well as Magic the Gathering, playing a cleric in Dungeons and Dragons (back when THAC0 was a thing), and had a dice collection to rival all others. He advises anyone who plays Risk to go after either Africa or Australia first, and that trying to hold Asia in the beginning is for suckers. He also enjoyed computer games, MMO’s, and played World of Warcraft before it was cool, largely because playing World of Warcraft has never been considered “cool”.

Rick’s taste in music began and ended in the 60’s, though he admits that the early 70’s had a few good songs too. He was also a carpenter, photographer, jewelry maker, scuba diver, electrician, belgian waffle maker, master story-teller, computer programmer, little league baseball coach, an expert seamster, and at one point made 35 zebra costumes for a local high school play. He was depressingly good at a lot of things. He loved traveling, and insisted on wearing an Indiana Jones style fedora, which he claimed kept the sun off his face, but mostly served to embarrass his children.

He is succeeded by his mother Dorothy, siblings Vicki and Larry, as well as his beloved wife Marsha, his daughter Jessica, and two sons Christopher and Nathan and adoptive daughter Susan. He was also lucky enough to enjoy time with his two grandchildren, Rebecca and Owen, before he passed away, though continued to ask even on his deathbed, when exactly more grandchildren were coming along. He was dear friends of David and the late Stefi Leibman and the late Ken Smith.

Visitation at Krause Funeral Home, 9000 West Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Friday, January 5, 2018 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM. Funeral service at 11:00 AM. Burial to follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers donations are welcome to Child’s Play Charity, 8151 164th Ave NE PMB #418, Redmond, WA 98052.