John Peterson

John Reagan Peterson passed away peaceably Friday March 12, 2021. He was born November 14, 1948 in Kerrville, Texas. He later moved to San Antonio, Texas. He was in the first graduating class of Churchill High School, Class of 1967. He later graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a degree in Business. Early in his career, he was in industrial sales with Hilti Corp in San Antonio and Marine Lumber in Houston. After his fathers passing he moved back to San Antonio to manage Mrs. Schneider's Cake Shop, the family-owned business. After selling the business in 1979, he went to work in the oil patch working for Chromalloy Drilling Fluids as a mud engineer. Following the down-turn in the oil business in the early 1980's, Reagan moved to Bandera. He partnered with his life-long friend Randy Roberts to start Pipe Creek Water Well Company. Reagan later purchased Indian Waters Inc. and started his own property development company that included Buck Creek Village. Reagan met his wife Helen in Bandera. Reagan and Helen had a second home in Montana where they spent many summers together with their dogs and horses. They were always welcoming visitors. One of their annual events was participating in the Chief Joseph trail ride. Reagan was happy to invite his Texas friends on trips to Montana and would even include free driving supervision. He was an avid bird watcher. He made several trips into Mexico and South America on bird watching trips. He was involved in multiple non-profit organizations. He started the Aguas Indias Wildlife Sanctuary along the banks of the lake in the Indian Waters Subdivision in Bandera. He was on the Board of Directors for the Bandera Natural History Museum. He was an active member of the Bandera County Chamber of Commerce for many years and an active supporter of the Annual Hunters BarBQ. He received the Chamber's Citizen of the Year award in 2000. He was recognized by the Bandera County Regional Foundation, Inc. as the Philanthropist of the Year in 2003. The Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas presented him with their Community Builder Award in 2004. He worked as a Santa for the Spirits of Christmas and participated in the Optimists Club safe school graduation activities. Reagan loved life and loved his friends. He had a quick mind and frequently did things "spur of the moment". If you had known him for a while and you ran into him or stopped by to visit, it was not unusual to hear one of his favorite lines, delivered with gusto: "come go with me!" There was no use asking where, you just got in the truck, already infected with his enthusiasm. It might be an errand, or just a ride through the pasture to check on a cow, or an adventure you would not soon forget. Reagan never met a stranger. He had friends all around the country. He was always ready for a game of Scrabble. He loved telling jokes and was known for telling the same ones over and over. No one ever seemed to mind. That was just the way he was. We miss him. Reagan was preceded in death by his sister Sue Ellen Peterson and parents Jack Hamilton Peterson and Ellen Reagan Peterson. He is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Helen Miller Peterson, son David Reagan Peterson of Hondo, TX, daughter Mary Peterson, husband Eric Sonsthagen and their two children Luke and Kate, all of Omaha, Nebraska, brother Walter Peterson and his wife Frances Peterson of Bandera, and nephews Reagan Wallace Peterson, living in China, Travis James Peterson of Austin, TX and Justin Killebrew of Silver Springs, Maryland, many cousins and good friends. No funeral service is planned. A celebration will be held at a later date. The family requests any memorial donations to be made to the Bandera Natural History Museum and condolences sent to Grimes Funeral Chapels Website.