Clifford (Cliff) Peterson, 84, passed away at Rainycrest Home for the Aged in Fort Frances, Ont. on Friday, Jan. 11, 2002. He was born March 27, 1917 in Chapple, Ont. to the late Sweyn and Rudie Peterson.
Cliff is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elaine; and his sister, Tillie Ojala and her family, Cliff, Sharon, and Barbara, all of Thunder Bay, Ont. Cliff and Elaine had one son, Wayne. Wayne and his wife, Danna, lived in Spring Hill, Fla.
Cliff’s family lived on a farm in Barwick, Ont. and to make ends meet, this musical family used to play in and around the Barwick area.
As a young man, Cliff started out logging but this was interrupted by WWII. During the war he served in the Signal Corps in Europe and North Africa. After being honourably discharged, he married Elaine Sharples of Kenora, Ont. in 1946.
Cliff worked for the Newman family (Mel and Earle) from 1946 to 1987. He started out at Melfort Equipment and moved to car sales at Mel Newman Ltd.
When not selling cars, Cliff was a member of several different orchestras and played with other musicians, such as Enzo Dittaro, Norm Fagerdahl, Dave Armit, Croal Hamilton, Virg Cousineau, Carl Blasky, Werner Schuschke, Don Frick, Oiva Soderholm, Angelo Dittaro, Art DeBenedet, Claude DeBenedet, Don DeBenedet, Joe Ossachuk, Arnie Lahti, Jack Mutz, Elmer and Teresa Norlund, Bob Wepruk, and Frank DeBenedet.
He livened it up at Rainycrest when “the boys,” calling themselves the “Rainycrest Rascals,” used to entertain the residents.
Sister Kennedy Centre was another place you could see Cliff playing his guitar, banjo, violin, or mandolin.
In addition to all of this, Cliff and Elaine operated a resort called Moonlite Bay Camp on Lake of the Woods from 1960-1984. After the resort was sold, it was transformed into Peterson Island Houseboat Rentals.
Cliff liked to help out at the houseboat base in Morson, Ont., and attended many sport shows in Chicago, Minneapolis, and St. Paul.
Many throughout Rainy River District will remember Cliff’s warm smile, friendly manner, and boundless energy.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2002 at 3 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances. Rev. Marietta Marshall will officiate, with interment in Chapple Cemetery in Barwick.
The Royal Canadian Legion Br. 29 Colour Party will provide a military tribute during the service.
Friends may visit Monday, Jan. 14, 2002 from 7 until 9 p.m. at Green Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Clifford Ojala, Ray Stewart, Don Ross, Bob Conlon, Billy Watts, and Claude DeBenedet.
Honourary pallbearers will be Ed Polz, Palmer Sharples, Chuck Sharples, and Nels Stewart.
Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to either the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 920 Frenette Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3N4, or the Rainycrest Home for the Aged Palliative Care Unit, c/o Rainycrest Home for the Aged, 550 Osborne St., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3T2.
Fort Frances Times
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