A funeral service for Eric Peterson of Spencer, formerly from Ayrshire, was held Saturday, May 15, at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer.
Interment was in Riverside Cemetery, Spencer. The Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Ruthven was in charge of arrangements.
Eric Michael Peterson was born on June 25, 1976 in Spencer, the son of Keith and Debbra Peterson, a farming family south of Ayrshire. Eric attended kindergarten at Ayrshire Community School and 1st through 12th at Laurens-Marathon where he excelled as a hard hitting linebacker on the then Northwest Raiders football team.
Eric had the biggest heart. He was a proud father and grandfather and shared a very special bond of love and understanding with his loving wife, Tammy. Loved by his family and everyone who knew him, Eric could light up the room with his smile and always knew how to soften the tension with just the right amount of dry Peterson wit. Generous to the end, Eric profoundly affected multiple families through organ donation.
Eric took great joy in the simple things in life and great pride in his work. He was a dedicated machinist and CNC manager at Rosenboom in Spirit Lake at the time of his passing. He also thrived as an entrepreneur alongside Tammy as they spent four years building the Mainstreet Pub and Grill in Bancroft into a premiere dining and entertainment venue.
Eric is preceded in death by his father Keith Peterson; maternal grandparents Orin and Evelyn Kenyon of Hartley; paternal grandparents Ralph and Amy Peterson of Ayrshire; and a nephew, Kaleb Peterson-Earth.
He is survived by his wife Tammy and grandson Kyan of Spencer; son Elijiah Updike of Worthington, MN and children Zachary Schmidt and wife Chelsey of Los Angeles, CA, Sierra Eldridge of Lincoln, NE, and Brianna Schubert and husband Kyle of Spencer, mother Debbra Peterson of Spencer (previously of Ayrshire), brothers Brian Peterson and wife Kristen of Edwardsville, IL, Kevin Peterson and wife Joy of West Des Moines, and John Peterson and wife Krystle of Seattle, WA.
He will be often remembered and greatly missed by all those mentioned as well as by four additional grandchildren and several nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.
Eric was a college sports enthusiast and a truly dedicated Iowa Hawkeye fanatic. In his memory and honor the family requested that guests dress casually and wear the colors of their favorite college team on the day of his funeral ceremony.
Condolences can be left at
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