Walter Emil Peterson, Jr.

Walter Emil Peterson, Jr. 79 years old, born October 24, 1945, in Boise, ID to Gloria (nee Major) and Walter E. Peterson, Sr. and raised in Ridgewood NJ, Walter passed away May 3, 2025 at the University of Vermont Medical Center following a stroke a week earlier.  Predeceased by his parents, sister Ellen Giardino, and brother-in-law Pete Letz, and nephew Peter Giardino. Survived by sons Walter E. Peterson, III (Dawn) Hague NY; Jason A. Peterson (Courtney) South Hackensack NJ; and their mother, Maureen Cherubini (Hague NY); stepson Scott Kuenzel (Kristin) Ho-Ho-Kus NJ;  sisters Karen Krohn (Alan) Toms River NJ and Linda Letz (North Kingstown RI); brother Robert Peterson (Maggie) Durham CT; brother-in-law Paul Giardino, and wife, Betsyanne (Meringer-Kuenzel) Peterson Hague NY; grandchildren Skylar Morales, Max and Lucy Peterson, and Patrick and Kelli Kuenzel, many nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law, Judy Meringer and Nancy (Meringer) both of Shelter island NY.

Walter attended Ridgewood High School and was accepted into the U.S. Marine Corps January 31, 1964, honorably discharged as Lance Corporal January 30, 1970, after receiving several medals including the Vietnamese Service Medal for his twenty-one months in Viet Nam. Previously employed with Downes Tree Service and Sequoia Tree; after moving to Hague, NY, he was employed by the town at their boat launch on Lake George and their recycling center and was also a member of the Hague Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Corps. While residing in Ho-Ho-Kus, he was a member of the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department for forty years, serving as Secretary for thirty-seven years.

There will be visiting will be on May 21, 2025, from 3pm to 6:30pm and a Firemen’s Services following at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department or Hague Volunteer Fire Department, 4 W Hage Road, P.O. Box 585, Hague, NY 12836.