Joseph Dick "Joe" Peterson

PETERSON, Joseph Dick ”Joe”, age 70, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 11, 2022 in the Dayton, Ohio area. He was born to the late Dick and Joanna Peterson on March 28, 1952 in Pueblo, Colorado.

Joe graduated from South High School in Pueblo, Colorado in 1970. He went on to graduate from the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa in 1974. Joe was a 3rd generation Chiropractor passionate about the history and philosophy of Chiropractic and the caring for others. After being in practice for over 10 years in Colorado, Joe returned Palmer College of Chiropractic in Iowa as faculty member in the Department of Technique teaching the skills of adjusting to students for over 20 years.

Joe could build or fix just about anything and had the tools to prove it. Joe loved working on cars, specifically “Hot Rods” which included his grandfather’s 1930 Model A Ford. He also enjoyed music and playing the harmonica and trombone which would commonly lead to a random “silly song” singing session. He always had a story filled with humor followed by his distinctive laugh and infectious smile. Joe moved to Ohio in 2018 to be near family as he was battling Parkinson’s.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents and wife; Sharon Peterson.

He is survived by his sisters, Margaret (Ray) Davis of Colorado City, Colorado and Amy (Todd) Crouch of Bellbrook, Ohio; niece, Amanda (Tim) Holtz of Centerville, Ohio; nephew, Kyle (Madison) Crouch of Bellbrook, Ohio; and long-time devoted friend, Roger J.R. Hynes of Davenport, Iowa.

In lieu of a service, the family would like to share the following sentiments from his dear friend Roger J.R. Hynes, who was like a brother to Joe for over two decades:

“In this life, there are many things one hopes never to have to do. One that is particularly hard is having to say the last goodbye to a dear friend. Even when their passing is merciful, it is still hard. Even when you try your hardest to reflect on the better times, times of laughter, and shenanigans, it is still hard. Saying goodbye to my friend Joe is really hard. Not everyone “got” Joe; I think he worked with a different perceptivity than the rest of us. His brain was wired differently. He thought both linearly and completely random. There was no filter between his brain and mouth. If you weren’t paying close attention, you heard nothing but the indiscriminate, seemingly disconnected thoughts, but if you did really listen to him, there would be moments in which you realized he possessed savant-level brilliance. He could look at objects and see them not for what they were but for what they could be. His creativity was astonishing. His ingenuity and brilliance also tortured him. He couldn’t always grasp why others couldn’t see what he saw. He always had a plan to show them, but it didn’t always work out as he had hoped.

He was the most genuine person I knew in the two decades I had the privilege to call him my friend. When he asked about my kids, or what projects I was involved with, or whatever, he really wanted and expected a full account. There was no such thing as small talk with him. Joe had expectations from those closest to him, and that was sometimes a challenge, but If Joe loved you, you knew it. His voracious dedication to those he cared for knew no bounds. He would self-sacrifice for their happiness. He was truly a good man.

I will miss being under old cars with a beer and busted knuckles with him. I will miss sitting at the village Inn eating double cheeseburgers discussing spinal biomechanics, and laughing at dirty jokes. I will miss the warmth of his charismatic smile. I will just miss him. Joe, I hope you knew that I “got” you.” - Roger

A special thank you to the amazing care givers and staff at Tapestry Senior Living and Franklin Ridge Skilled Nursing Facility. Memorial donations may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation, https://www.parkinson.org/ or Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/.