John Henry Peters

John Henry Peters, 86, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, May 26 with his loving wife by his side. John was born on April 11, 1939, in East Detroit, Michigan, to the late Robert and Sarah (Skaggs) Peters. He grew up in Roseville and graduated from high school there before proudly enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1958. During his service, John rose to the rank of Corporal and became a master mechanic, skilled in maintaining vehicles of all sizes. He was recognized as an expert rifleman with the .30 caliber Garand rifle and was also highly proficient with the .45 caliber pistol and .30 caliber machine gun. His assignments took him to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Camp Pendleton, California, where he earned multiple honors for his dedication and excellence. After his honorable discharge, John pursued further education at South Macomb Community College and AC Voltage Westinghouse in Detroit, all while working at General Motors. His career with GM spanned 34 years, culminating in his retirement in 1996 as General Supervisor for the Engineering Test Laboratory in Pontiac. He loved his work and took great pride in his contributions to the company. On May 14, 1983, John married the love of his life, Barbara Sue Atwell. Together they shared 42 beautiful years of marriage, filled with love, partnership, and purpose. After retirement in 1996, John and Barbara fulfilled a shared dream by moving to Traverse City, where they built a beautiful log home on Bass Lake. There, they became active members of the community. Together, they co-founded the Northwest Classy K9 4-H Club, and John served as a past member of the Grand Traverse County 4-H Council. He was also involved with the Grand Traverse Kennel Club as equipment manager for agility trials, and was a member of the Grand Rapids Michigan Agility Club. John’s passion for giving back extended well beyond the dog world. He mentored several young boys through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program—three in Traverse City and one in southern Michigan. He volunteered for the National Cherry Festival for over 20 years and was a former member of the Kiwanis Club in Traverse City. Animal rescue was close to his heart—John and Barbara rescued several Border Collies over the years, including “Gypsy,” whom they took in following Hurricane Katrina. With his beloved dog “Brae,” John competed in dog agility events and earned numerous titles. He also participated in the “Dog Flyball” sport while living in southeast Michigan. John was a devoted member of the Grawn United Methodist Church, where he enjoyed volunteering in the kitchen and cherished the fellowship of his church family. He found peace and joy in nature, especially during trips to the Upper Peninsula and at their cottage in Newberry. He and Barbara spent many hours on their front deck, simply enjoying the serenity of the lake. John also loved working outside and riding his John Deere tractor. John is survived by his devoted wife of 42 years, Barbara; daughters Lisa (Steve) Jensen of Marine City, MI and Jennifer (Charles) Harbour of Omaha, NE; grandchildren Jordan (Patrick) Peters, Noah (Emily) Jensen, Grace Harbour, Will Harbour, and Henry Harbour; great-grandchildren Bowen and Avery Peters; and many other loving family members and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Gary (Shirley) Peters, Arthur (Carol) Peters, Mary (Frank) Reno, and Carol Shimmel. Visitation will be held on Monday, June 16, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Grawn United Methodist Church, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM. A luncheon will be held at the church, after which a funeral procession will proceed to Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens, where military honors will be rendered in tribute to John’s service. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Grawn United Methodist Church in honor of John’s life and legacy. Kindly share thoughts and memories with his family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

John Henry Peters

April 11, 1939 - May 26, 2025