Gary Peterson Obituary

Gary Peterson passed away peacefully in his home on September 25, 2024. He was born in Ottawa, Illinois to Earl and Celia Peterson. When he was five years old, his parents moved to southern California. In high school, Gary was on the varsity swim team. Gary graduated from San Diego State University, where he studied microbiology. In 1971, he married Jane, who was the love of his life, and together, they raised three children-Chris, Jeff, and Eric. They moved to Nipomo in the early 90s, and Gary worked at French Hospital, Marian Medical Center, and Hardy Diagnostics before he retired.
Gary loved camping, swimming, going to the movies, traveling, and stargazing with his friends and family.
Gary's proudest achievement was his invention of a carrot broth medium for the cultivation of microorganisms. The invention is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office under Patent No. 8,313,938.
Above all, Gary was a kind and decent man, who, at the end of his life, struggled mightily with Parkinson's disease. Gary's friends and family love him and miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Jane, and he is survived by his sons, Chris, Jeff, and Eric; his daughters-in-law, Shinobu and Jina; and his grandchildren, Allen, Liam, Declan, and Yvette.
A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 4380 Orcutt Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93455.
Donations in Gary's memory can be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gary, please visit our floral store.