Sally A. Peterson
Some goodbyes are short, but our goodbye to Sally Peterson was a long one, and yet she left us far too soon. This obituary, much like Sally, will have a traditional start, but won’t take a path most expect.
Sally Augusta Willadeen Zimmerman Peterson, age 83, of Shawano, died on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Born on August 19, 1942, in the town of Pella, Shawano County, Sally was the daughter of the late William and Hildegarde (Frederick) Zimmerman.
It’s hard to stand out when you’re one of the youngest of twelve siblings, and while she may not have tried to, Sally was remarkable! She shared so many stories of her childhood, especially the mischief she and her brother, Fritzie, got up to regularly, all the childhood jealousies with her sisters, a battle with rheumatic fever that left her bedridden off and on for two years, and memories of her “ma’s” cooking. Shortly before Grandma Hildegarde died, Sally won the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow for Marion High School (as she reminded us on the rare occasion we dared to kid her about her cooking skills), receiving a golden pin she would always treasure. Young and independent, Sally left Pella after graduation for the comparatively big city of Caroline to work in the glove factory and later worked in a sewing factory in Milwaukee (an actual big city).
Sally spent more time behind a bar by the time she was 30 than most will in a lifetime (and we know that says something for anyone in Wisconsin). She began her career as a bartender when she was a teenager, working Friday night fish fry at Buntrock’s Bar in Pella, where she would work off and on until the early 1970s. It was there when she met her husband, Marshall Peterson, while tending bar one Christmas Eve when he was delivering a Christmas tree. Sparks flew, and wanting to give her a Christmas gift, he gave her the deerskin gloves he’d intended for his niece, Connie. Sally wouldn’t see him until the Shawano Fair the next fall, but they were both smitten. A few years later, they were married, literally building a house together, and had their first daughter, Patti, followed five years later by Tami. Sally was widowed six years later and spent much of her adult life working to support her girls – summers on the road with the carnival, winters in a sewing factory or tending bar, and often having multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Many of Sally’s customers from The Oasis knew her as Hot Sal, maker of the best soups, tacos, chili, and potato salad in Shawano, and folks came from miles around to The Corner Bar for her old fashioneds. All remember her as the feisty little blonde with a big smile who remembered everyone’s favorite food and drink orders, never too busy to take a minute to gush over the babies and small children customers frequently brought for a visit. Sally mastered the art of hospitality and lived to make people happy.
Family was all-important to Sally. She was immensely proud of two other feisty blondes – her granddaughters, Ellie and Hannah, and loved to brag to anyone who would listen. She was a doting grandma from a distance, calling frequently, cooking with them when they visited (a whole family event given the size of the house), and hosting “Grandma Camp” each summer.
Sally passed on her cooking gene to her granddaughters, both of whom love to cook and bake, but most of all watch people enjoy what they make, just like Grandma. Both of Sally’s daughters married Toms – Tami’s usually quiet and Patti’s not so much. One thing they definitely had in common – love of their mother-in-law’s cooking! Carny years long behind her, Sally still loved to travel. She had numerous adventures near and far with Patti and multiple roadtrips with all four of her girls – and Tami’s Tom, chuckling at them all!
Sally is greatly missed by her girls and their husbands, Patti (Tom Hawley) Peterson of Shawano and Tami (Tom) Brass of Stillwater, Minnesota, and her granddaughters, Elizabeth of Iowa City, Iowa, and Hannah Brass of West Lafayette, Indiana. She is also survived by her sisters, Lorraine Lohrentz and Nancy Laude; “baby brother,” Bill Zimmerman; Jim’s daughters, Denise (Steve) Mariano of Leavenworth, Kansas, and Stephanie (Charlie) Welter of Shawano and their families; Patti’s step-children, Zachary Hawley, Kassidy (Michael) Andrus, and Calissa (Cody) Riemer and their families; along with many nieces and nephews, each of whom, along with many of their children, knew her as “Auntie Sal,” a name that always warmed Sally’s heart, especially given that some were close to her age!
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marshall Peterson; partner of many years, Jim Zeman; her parents, William and Hildegarde; step-mother, Eva; siblings, Janet (LeRoy) Romberg, Ferd Zeinert, Elmer (Pat) Zimmerman, Mary (Denver) Firgens, Betty (Roy) Christiansen, Walter Lohrentz, John (Mary) Zimmerman, Ruth (Arnie) Kutchenriter, Dorothy (Allan) Bowan, Fred (Esther) Zimmerman, Marsha Zimmerman, Ronald Laude, Kathy Zimmerman; sisters and brothers-in-law, Eva (Ben) Thorne, Ethel (Rob) Grunewald, Stanley Peterson, Wiladean (Harvey) Carney; and numerous nieces and nephews, including her goddaughter, Jolene Bowan.
As those close to her knew, the past few years were especially hard for Sally and her family. She would want you to raise a glass or a fork (or both) and share your best stories with laughter. If you’re able, please join us to celebrate her life on Friday, July 17, 2026.
A memorial service for Sally A. Peterson will be held on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 11 am at Mickelson Funeral Service in Shawano. Pastor Scott Ludford will officiate. Visitation will begin at the funeral home on Friday at 9 am and continue until the time of service.
Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc. of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.
Sally’s daughters would like to extend their heartfelt thanks for the exceptional care given at The Pines and, in her final days, by Moments Hospice. We are especially grateful to Casey Christopherson for her devoted and loving care of Mom.
