Marjorie A. (Langer) Peterson, age 92, of Sheboygan, died on Wednesday, February 5, 2024, at
her home, surrounded by her family. She was predeceased by her husband Francis C. Peterson
after almost 69 years of marriage. She was born in Owatonna, Minnesota on September 24, 1932
the daughter of the late Emil and Elizabeth Shimpach Langer.
The 3 rd of 6 children, she is survived by her “baby” brother David Langer (Marguerite) and sister
Kathleen Wobschall, whom she cherished all her life. Growing up in Owatonna she lived both
“in town” and on the farm. She was a voracious reader and would walk back and forth to the
library with stacks of books (a love of reading passed on to her children). She did well in school
and was a strong swimmer. She insisted all of her children become swimmers, and her daughters
were later on swim teams.
After high school, she worked at Jostens and often talked about her time there. She was engaged
to Francis C. Peterson when he spent a year in Alaska in the Air Force, sending letters and
undeveloped films for him to develop in the bases’ darkroom. They married in 1954 and moved
to Marietta, Georgia for him to finish his service. They returned to Minnesota so Francis could
finish college on the GI bill. He probably wouldn't have graduated if it had not been for
Margie’s writing and proofreading skills. (She would later insist that all her children attend
college, even when the tradition was not for women to attend a four-year college.)
In 1966, they moved to St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis was a long way from Minnesota, with
frequent letters, infrequent phone calls (long distance wasn’t cheap then), and once-a-year road
trips in the summer to see the family and cousins again.
Marge was a great entertainer and host. She sewed beautifully on her Singer sewing machine,
making her daughter’s Easter dresses each year and their Halloween costumes. She read all the
Good Housekeeping and Better Homes and Garden magazines, always trying new recipes, and
each year, when the winners of the Pillsbury Bake-off contest were announced, she was sure to
try those recipes and add them to her repertoire. There usually weren’t store-bought cookies in
the house (save Oreos) because if we wanted cookies, we could make them. She would host large
open houses in St. Louis with 100 people “dropping in” and put on a lavish spread with tons of
desserts. She even took a class on entertaining with her friends from church because you never
know where you’ll get invited.
Marjorie was a lifelong Lutheran and active in church, ladies' circles, and service events.
Bethany Lutheran in St. Louis became her family and relatives, as many members there were
displaced Minnesotans. She also loved her music, and when we came home from school, you
never knew what would be playing, from classical to modern. She would make deals with her
youngest that if they stayed in their “church clothes,” she would take them to the St. Louis
Symphony.
Marge loved her sports, the Minnesota Twins being her favorite. She introduced her
grandchildren to her love of the Twins, too. When you visited in the summer, if the Twins were
playing, she was watching, but she also had a fondness for the Vikings (the Bears when she lived
in Chicago) and any other sport that was being televised.
In 1979, the family moved to St. Charles, Illinois, and again, Marge found her friendships
through Bethlehem Lutheran Church and immersed herself in the community. Another move in
1984 to Woodbury, Connecticut, where Marge took delight in discovering where all the movie
stars lived. Finally, having had time to travel, Marge and Francis visited Hawaii, England, and
Mexico.
They moved to Prescott, WI, much closer to relatives and able to participate in family events.
bought a house on the lake in Spooner, WI, eventually remodeling and adding on to make it their
permanent home. For many years she hosted the “Langer weekend,” where upwards of 40
cousins would come and camp in their yard, share meals, and play cards and “chicken feet” for
the long weekend.
Following Francis’ stroke in 2017, they moved to Sheboygan to be closer to their grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. Marge reveled in their visits and participating in their birthdays and
other activities these past eight years.
We are thankful we had her for so many years and realize how fortunate we all were.
Survivors include children Alan (Mary Jo) Peterson, of Henderson, TN, Barbara (Donald)
Martens, Brenda (Brian) Richterkessing, both of Sheboygan, Sandra Peterson, of Lake Los
Angeles, CA, and Mary Peterson (Steve Schubert), of Sheboygan; grandchildren, Amy Wood,
Christie Henderson, Carl Martens, Katie Brooks, Jacob Martens, Eilish Nobes; great-
grandchildren, Amelia Wood, Harper Henderson, Mack and Remy Martens, Tristan and Raylan
Brooks, Nathan and Eva Vaughn, Malachi, Esther, and Jael Martens; sister Kathy Wobschall, of
Owatonna, MN and sister-in-law, Louise Peterson, of Blooming Prairie, MN; and brother, David
(Marguerite) Langer, of Sheboygan. Many other relatives and friends survive Marjorie. She was
preceded in death by her parents, brother Donald Langer, and sisters Jean Sanders and Judy
Ringhofer.
The family extends a special thank you to her many caregivers who watched over her for the past
16 months, allowing her to stay home. A special thank you goes to her main caregiver, Joan, for
the energy she brought into her room with each visit and for caring for her as if she was her own
mother.
A funeral service for Marjorie will be held on Sunday afternoon, February 16th, at 2:00 p.m. at
the Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12 th Street, Sheboygan. Family and friends may also
gather at the funeral home on Saturday, February 15th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on
Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, to honor the family’s request, please make a donation in her memory to St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital. www.stjude.org
Online condolences may be expressed at www.reinboldfh.com
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