Some goodbyes are short, but our goodbye to Sally Peterson, was a long one, and
yet she left us far too soon. This obituary, much like Sally, will have a traditional
start, but won’t take a path most expect.
Sally Augusta Willadeen Zimmerman Peterson, age 83, of Shawano, died on
Thursday, June 25, 2026. Born on August 19, 1942, in the town of Pella, Shawano
County, Sally was the daughter of the late William and Hildegarde (Frederick)
Zimmerman.
It’s hard to stand out when you’re one of the youngest of twelve siblings, and while
she may not have tried to, Sally was remarkable! She shared so many stories of her
childhood, especially the mischief she and her brother, Fritzie, got up to regularly,
all the childhood jealousies with her sisters, a battle with rheumatic fever that left
her bedridden off and on for two years, and memories of her “ma’s” cooking.
Shortly before Grandma Hildegarde died, Sally won the Betty Crocker
Homemaker of Tomorrow for Marion High School (as she reminded us on the rare
occasion we dared to kid her about her cooking skills), receiving a golden pin she
would always treasure. Young and independent, Sally left Pella after graduation for
the comparatively big city of Caroline to work in the glove factory and later
worked in a sewing factory in Milwaukee (an actual big city).
Sally spent more time behind a bar by the time she was 30 than most will in a
lifetime (and we know that says something for anyone in Wisconsin). She began
her career as a bartender when she was a teenager, working Friday night fish fry at
Buntrock’s Bar in Pella, where she would work off and on until the early 1970s. It
was there when she met her husband, Marshall Peterson, while tending bar one
Christmas Eve when he was delivering a Christmas tree. Sparks flew, and wanting
to give her a Christmas gift, he gave her the deerskin gloves he’d intended for his
niece, Connie. Sally wouldn’t see him until the Shawano Fair the next fall, but they
were both smitten. A few years later, they were married, literally building a house
together, and had their first daughter, Patti, followed five years later by Tami. Sally
was widowed six years later and spent much of her adult life working to support
her girls – summers on the road with the carnival, winters in a sewing factory or
tending bar, and often having multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Many of Sally’s customers from The Oasis knew her as Hot Sal, maker of the best
soups, tacos, chili, and potato salad in Shawano, and folks came from miles around
to The Corner Bar for her old fashioneds. All remember her as the feisty little
blonde with a big smile who remembered everyone’s favorite food and drink
orders, never too busy to take a minute to gush over the babies and small children
customers frequently brought for a visit. Sally mastered the art of hospitality and
lived to make people happy.
Family was all-important to Sally. She was immensely proud of two other feisty
blondes – her granddaughters, Ellie and Hannah, and loved to brag to anyone who
would listen. She was a doting grandma from a distance, calling frequently,
cooking with them when they visited (a whole family event given the size of the
house), and hosting “Grandma Camp” each summer.
Sally passed on her cooking gene to her granddaughters, both of whom love to
cook and bake, but most of all watch people enjoy what they make, just like
Grandma. Both of Sally’s daughters married Toms – Tami’s usually quiet and
Patti’s not so much. One thing they definitely had in common – love of their
mother-in-law’s cooking! Carny years long behind her, Sally still loved to travel.
She had numerous adventures near and far with Patti and multiple roadtrips with
all four of her girls – and Tami’s Tom, chuckling at them all!
Sally is greatly missed by her girls and their husbands, Patti (Tom Hawley)
Peterson of Shawano and Tami (Tom) Brass of Stillwater, Minnesota, and her
granddaughters, Elizabeth of Iowa City, Iowa, and Hannah Brass of West
Lafayette, Indiana. She is also survived by her sisters, Lorraine Lohrentz and
Nancy Laude; “baby brother,” Bill Zimmerman; Jim’s daughters, Denise (Steve)
Mariano of Leavenworth, Kansas, and Stephanie (Charlie) Welter of Shawano and
their families; Patti’s step-children, Zachary Hawley, Kassidy (Michael) Andrus,
and Calissa (Cody) Riemer and their families; along with many nieces and
nephews, each of whom, along with many of their children, knew her as Auntie
Sal, a name that always warmed Sally’s heart, especially given that some were
close to her age!
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marshall Peterson; partner of many
years, Jim Zeman; her parents, William and Hildegarde; step-mother, Eva; siblings,
Janet (LeRoy) Romberg, Ferd Zeinert, Elmer (Pat) Zimmerman, Mary (Denver)
Firgens, Betty (Roy) Christiansen, Walter Lohrentz, John (Mary) Zimmerman,
Ruth (Arnie) Kutchenriter, Dorothy (Allan) Bowan, Fred (Esther) Zimmerman,
Marsha Zimmerman, Ronald Laude, Kathy Zimmerman; sisters and brothers-in-
law, Eva (Ben) Thorne, Ethel (Rob) Grunewald, Stanley Peterson, Wiladean
(Harvey) Carney; and numerous nieces and nephews, including her god-daughter,
Jolene Bowan.
As those close to her knew, the past few years were especially hard for Sally and
her family. She would want you to raise a glass or a fork (or both) and share your
best stories with laughter. If you’re able, please join us to celebrate her life on
Friday, July 17, 2026.
A memorial service for Sally A. Peterson will be held on Friday, July 17, 2026, at
11:00 am at Mickelson Funeral Service in Shawano. Pastor Scott Ludford will
officiate. Visitation will begin at the funeral home on Friday at 9:00 am and
continue until the time of service.
Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc. of Shawano is assisting the family
with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.
“Sally’s daughters would like to extend their heartfelt thanks for the exceptional
care given at The Pines and, in her final days, by Moments Hospice. We
are especially grateful to Casey Christopherson for her devoted and loving care of
Mom.”
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