Doreen R Peterson

MADISON / MONONA - Doreen Peterson, longtime Madison and Monona resident, died Friday, June 6, 2025, after a brief but devastating decline due to dementia. Doreen was born on October 4, 1935, in Milwaukee, to Mary and Walter Ramthun. She grew up in a tavern run by her mother after her father died. She attended North Division High School and was one of a few classmates to attend college. She attended UW-Madison and obtained a degree in Elementary Education. After college, she taught at Glendale and Maywood School in Monona until she started her family.

Doreen married Richard Peterson on June 7, 1964, at Trinity United Methodist Church on Vilas Avenue. She was a member of Monona United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school and served on committees. She was a member of the Historic Blooming Grove Historical Society and was instrumental in the restoration of the Dean House on Monona Drive. During those years, she also enjoyed baking, needlepoint, calligraphy, knitting and sewing.

As her children grew, she worked for eight years in retail. After that, her proudest accomplishment was teaching adults English as a Second Language in neighborhood locations through MATC. She did this for 15 years, retiring at age 72.  She continued to do this on a volunteer basis into her 80s through her church.

Active in retirement, Doreen attended the symphony and opera, took numerous trips to Europe and throughout the U.S., belonged to the Monona Ladies Improvement Society to care for the Winnequah Park gazebo, joined the Lucky13 golf league and attended Bible studies. Until recently, Doreen was active in church, book club, playing mahjong and working out at Planet Fitness.  

Doreen is survived by her children, Jan (Jim) Zadra, Steve (Pam) Peterson and John Peterson; grandchildren, Joey Peterson, Kady Peterson, Jason Zadra and Andrew Zadra; two nephews and a niece. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard (in 2000); her parents; brother, John Oswald; sister, Mary Oswald; and beloved dachshund, Otto.  

A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 noon on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. A luncheon will follow. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday.

Memorials may be made to the Monona United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420