Obituary: Robert J. Peeters Jr., 

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1944-2013, Colchester

Nov. 21, 1944 – Aug. 12, 2013

Bob said good bye to his family on Monday morning. He passed away at home, just as he wished, after a  three year battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Margaret “Peggy” Peeters; son Robert Peeters and his wife, Dawn Peeters, of Colchester; daughter Chrisanne Peeters Spence and her husband, Christopher Spence, of Richmond; son Chad Peeters and his significant other, Christin Swanson, of Middlebury; five grandchildren, Danielle Norcross, Amber Spence, Dylan Norcross, Brittany Spence and Robbie Peeters; sister Bonnie Peeters Tuscany of Vermont and North Carolina; and many nieces and nephews, including one special niece and one special nephew.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert J. Peeters Sr. and Eliette A. (Myers) Peeters of Winooski.

Bob grew up in Winooski and graduated from Winooski High School. He entered the Air Force after school and became a full-time aircraft technician for the Air National Guard for 14 years. He then went into law enforcement on the Milton police force and was a deputy for the Burlington sheriff’s department. He left law enforcement to take the facilities manager position at the Burlington Free Press, where he was employed for 23 years until retiring in 2006.

Bob loved hunting and fishing and NASCAR racing. He especially enjoyed going on hunting trips with his son and grandsons. He loved all of his family and country music equally, but when he would sing, he would cause wolves everywhere to howl. He was a man with a teddy-bear heart and a gruff exterior, but when he called you “Meathead,” it meant he was very fond of you. He will be dearly missed by all his family and will forever be in our hearts.

The Peeters family would like to thank Dr. Paul Unger, Dr. Thomas Roland, Wendy, Barb, Margaret and all of the staff at the Vermont Cancer Center for the wonderful care and support that Bob and the family received during his battle with cancer.

Final arrangements are being conducted by the LaVigne Funeral Home in Winooski. There will be calling hours on Thursday, Aug. 22, from 4 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m. A private burial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bob’s name to Colchester Rescue.