John "Jerry" Jerome Peterson

John Jerome "Jerry" Peterson passed away peacefully on May 17, 2026, in Olympia, Washington. Born on February 11, 1944, in Denver, Colorado, Jerry was known by all for his outgoing nature, his deep love for the outdoors, and a genuine, lifelong commitment to helping others. Above all, Jerry’s life was defined by the joy he found in the company of his friends and family.

A graduate of Shoreline High School (1962) and the University of Washington (1968), Jerry honorably served his country in the U.S. Army before launching a successful career. He married Gay Mitchell in 1967 and had 3 children with her. He began as a sales manager with Coca-Cola in Salem, Oregon, before settling in Olympia. There, he became a fixture in the local business community, working in real estate, owning his own brokerage—Sound Commercial Properties—and later managing a local office building. His leadership skills were recognized by his peers, who elected him President of the Thurston County Realtors Association.

Jerry’s soul belonged to the water. His love for the maritime life began as a young boy filleting fish on the docks of Westport, Washington. Over the years, he owned numerous boats and was happiest when captaining a vessel, taking friends and family out on the water, or joining loved ones on theirs. He deeply cherished his many trips to Alaska to visit his close friend, Al. For the last ten years of his life, Jerry lived his dream by the water, renting a beautiful beachfront apartment from his dear friend, Guy, where he spent countless peaceful hours outside watching the boats and sea life pass by.

Jerry was a natural leader who poured his energy into his communities. He served as President of the Gig Harbor chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers for several years and was actively involved with the Ski Hawks. Mirroring his generous spirit, Jerry also dedicated much of his time to volunteering with Alcoholics Anonymous, providing compassionate counseling, mentorship, and encouragement to countless individuals on their journey to recovery.

Jerry is survived by his son, Scott Peterson; his daughter, Tracy Cutler; his sister, Linda LaPlante; his cousin, John Domde; and his five adored grandchildren. He was preceded in death and warmly reunited with his daughter, Dana Jones; his sister, Carolyn Uhl; his mother, Stella Copeland; his father, Virgil Peterson; and his step-father, Ben Copeland.