Oakland, Ca - Walter Joseph Peterson, beloved dad, husband, brother, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at 4:20 a.m. in Oakland, CA, surrounded by love.

Born in 1941 in Dumont, New Jersey, Walter lived a vibrant life marked by leadership, love, and an unyielding commitment to family. He was 84.

Walter was a dad in the truest sense — not just a father, but a quarterback to his family, a coach, a storyteller, and a larger-than-life presence.

To his children, Dawn Peterson Williams, Eric Walter Peterson, and Joe Thomas Peterson, he was all things — funny, gregarious, sharp, stubborn, creative, and warm. He was perfect in his imperfections, a man who shaped his children with the best and worst of himself. Walter insisted on family dinners every night, coached girl's league softball, and created cherished memories on vacations. Sunday mornings were sacred, with the family gathering after Mass at St. Anthony's in West Nyack, NY, to share donuts from Rockland Bakery. In Tennessee, he bonded with sons Eric and Joe at father-son golf tournaments, a testament to his devotion.

A graduate of Delaware Valley College, Walter excelled in the packaging machinery industry, rising to a top leadership role through hard work and ingenuity. His career took him across the country, from West Nyack, NY, to Danville, California, Kansas, Illinois, and Tennessee, before he settled in Oakland, CA in November 2024. A devout Catholic, Walter was active at Saint Frances Assisi of Crossville and a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, where his faith and leadership shone.

Walter's life was not without challenges. He faced Alzheimer's and dementia with resilience, transitioning from cane to walker to wheelchair. In his final days, cancer took him, but he was ready — peaceful and not alone, with his daughter, Dawn, by his side. His family refuses to define him by his illnesses, remembering him instead as their dad — a go-getter, a leader, and a man who could be both impossible and deeply loving.

Walter was a husband to three women who shaped his journey. He married Patricia Banfield, the Elizabeth Taylor look-alike who anchored their family during his frequent work travels. Married for over 23 years, they raised their children in West Nyack before moving to Danville, CA. After their separation, Walter married Francesca, relocating to Kansas and later Illinois, where they retired in Tennessee until her passing from lung cancer. Later, he married Jackie Youesting, and they shared nearly a decade together. When Jackie's daughter, Julie, suggested a move to Grand Rapids, MI, Walter chose to return to California to be near his family.

Walter leaves behind a legacy of love and memories. He is survived by his first wife, Patricia Peterson of Piedmont, CA; his third wife, Jackie Youesting of Michigan, and her daughter, Julie Youesting; son, Eric Walter Peterson and daughter-in-law Sherry Peterson of Portland, OR; daughter, Dawn Peterson Williams and son-in-law Joseph Michael Williams of Piedmont, CA, along with his cherished grandchildren, Sydney Kaitlin Williams and Judge James Joseph Williams: son, Joe Peterson and daughter-in-law Tami Peterson of the Oregon Coast; sister, Marilyn Bunting of New Jersey; nephews Robert Bunting, Kevin Bunting, and Greg Bunting, and their families; nieces Eileen Grove and Bethann Mackovich and their families.

Walter Joseph Peterson was a man who lived fully — stubborn, warm, difficult, and generous. His family will always remember him as their dad, a storyteller and leader who left an indelible mark. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer's Association or Corpus Christi Church in Oakland in Walter's memory.