Raphael LaVerne Peterson, age 79 of rural Blanchardville, passed away on Friday, January 29, 2016, due to complications following a stroke. He was born on March 24, 1936, to his parents, Percy and Thora (Lee) Peterson, on the home farm outside Hollandale.

Raphael graduated from Hollandale High School in 1954. On April 19, 1958, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Fornasiere at the Perry Lutheran Church in Daleyville. Raphael worked for Bock Corporation in Madison, Pet Milk in Belleville, and farmed until starting his own feed and seed business in 1970. His gift of gab made him a successful salesman and regional manager for Vigortone Ag Products for many years. Later he started a business of selling firewood around the area. Raphael was a Packers fan and enjoyed Vigortone incentive trips around the world, fishing trips to Canada, weekends at the lake, and shooting the breeze. His grandchildren were his pride and joy. He spent countless hours selling "chimneys" with them and spoiling them rotten.

Raphael is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Dorothy of Blanchardville; son, Michael of New Glarus; daughters, Sally Nealis of New Glarus and Jean (Kevin) Mathews of Waunakee; grandchildren, Taylor and Alexandra Nealis and Allison and Katelyn Mathews. He is further survived by his brothers, Gerald (Cecile) Peterson of Sauk City, Russell Peterson of Hollandale; and many nieces, nephews, customers, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Percy in 1995; mother, Thora in 2008; brother, Gary Peterson in 1971; sister, Jeanette Thompson in 2003; brother-in-law, Jack Thompson in 1995; sister-in-law, Bonnie (Doescher) Peterson in 2007; and son-in-law, Shannon Nealis in 2008.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, February 1, 2016, at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 506 Twelfth Ave., New Glarus, WI, with the Rev. Gene Talley officiating with burial in the Swiss Church Cemetery, New Glarus. Relatives and friends called from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Sunday, January 31, 2016, at the Shepherd of Hills Lutheran Church in New Glarus and from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Monday at the church.

A memorial fund has been established.

The Zentner-Beal Funeral Home of New Glarus is serving the family.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com