Matthew Peters

Hastings Funeral Home in Perry is in charge of arrangements for Matthew Dean Peters, 55, of rural Dawson. Matt died Thursday. He is survived by his wife Virginia (Ginnie), son Jason Peters (Natalie) of Belleville, IL; Dr. Jessica Peters of Elizabeth, CO; 2 grandchildren, Noah and Zoe; parents Dean and Dorothy Peters of Perry; sister Dee Peters and husband Don Wentz of Santa Fe, NM. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church, 23932 Meadow Rd., Adel. Visitation will be Tuesday at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry after NOON with the family present from 5:00 till 8:00 p.m. and continue at the church after 8:30 am Memorials are suggested to the Dawson Fire Dept.or Grace Lutheran Church and may be left at Hastings Funeral Home. Matthew Dean Peters, son of Harry "Dean" Peters and Dorothy Elizabeth Monroe Peters, was born May 30, 1955 in Guthrie Center, Iowa, and died May 12, 2011 at Redfield, Iowa at the age of 55. Matt started school in Dawson, Iowa, transferring to the Perry Community Schools during middle school. He graduated from Perry High School in 1973. After receiving his Associate Degree in Law Enforcement at DMACC, he married his high school sweetheart Virginia "Ginnie" Blair on December 27, 1975. They made their home on a family farm near Dawson and were blessed with two children, Jason and Jessica. Matt loved his family dearly and instilled in his children his values, his meticulousness, patience, work ethic, and love of animals. (and animals loved him!) Matt truly cared about people, whether they were youngsters, older neighbors who needed a hand or anyone in between. His selflessness led to his volunteering to move snow for others, answer a call during the night for help, or solve any one's problem. That trait also led him to being a volunteer firefighter and first responder for the Dawson Fire Department for many years. Matt will also be remembered for his easy going, relaxing presence, being a very hard worker and loving everyone. Matt and Ginnie were members of Grace Lutheran Church in Adel. As a family, they liked to camp, fish, and just be outdoors. They were fortunate to travel extensively, but he was particularly fond of Australia. Matt was preceded in death by his grandparents. He is survived by his wife Virginia "Ginnie" Peters of Dawson; his son Jason Peters and his wife Natalie of Belleville, Illinois; daughter Dr. Jessica Peters of Elizabeth, Colorado; two grandchildren: Noah and Zoe, and his parents Dean and Dorothy Peters. He is also survived by his sister Dee Peters and her husband Don Wentz of Santa Fe, New Mexico; nephews: Mike Klinnert and Brent Klinnert and his wife Michelle and niece Krista Godding and her husband Isaiah; his aunts: Mary Ann Monroe of Parker, Colorado and Dorothy Chaloupka of Amarillo, Texas, mother-in-law Oriet Blair of Webster City, Iowa; sister-in-law Jacquelin Klinnert and husband John of Underwood, Minnesota; other relatives and many, many friends.