Gary D. Peterman

Gary D. Peterman, 66, Wheatland, passed away April 7, 2017, in Springfield. He was born May 5, 1950, in Osceola, the son of Robert Paul and Wilma Jean (Sutt) Peterman.

Gary grew up in Collins. He enjoyed working cattle on the farm with his dad and rabbit, squirrel and quail hunting. He especially enjoyed it when Elzie D. Richter took him quail hunting.

Gary was saved at the age of 10 years old and was a member of the Coon Creek Baptist Church, Collins.

He attended Collins School all 12 years and was in the final graduating class of Collins High School in 1968. The following years after, Collins School only served elementary to middle school and Linda was in one of the last eighth grade classes to attend Collins. Years later, when Collins became only an elementary school, his daughter, Lindsay, was in fifth grade the year the school closed completely and all classes were moved to Weaubleau.

Gary attended Southwest Baptist College at Bolivar for a couple of years and then moved to Dallas, TX and attended the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science graduating with honors on Aug. 17, 1973.

Gary served his apprenticeship at Newcomer’s Funeral Home in Kansas City then in 1980 he and Clarence Hackleman bought the Chicken Mary’s Restaurant that had been fire damaged and remodeled it and built the Hackleman-Peterman Funeral Home of El Dorado Springs. He was always thankful to Hack for starting the business with him and being such a good partner. They served many families in the community and surrounding areas for years. In 1987, Gary sold his half of Hackleman-Peterman Funeral Home to Hack.

On April 3, 1982, Gary was united in marriage to Linda Ann Hensley and to this union two children were born, Derek and Lindsay.

In August of 1982, Gary and Linda bought the Hathaway Funeral Home of Wheatland. That was when they met a young man that was mowing the lawn, washing cars, and raking leaves for Gilbert Hathaway. To this day, Ronnie Fellers, whom Gary called his “Main Man,” is still doing all his old duties along with his many other funeral director duties. Ronnie also helped Gary at the farm almost on a daily basis.

In 1985, Gary and Linda bought land east of town and started construction of the Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Home of Wheatland which was completed in 1986.

On Jan. 25, 1984, Derek Ryan was born. Gary was so proud and happy to become a father. In Derek’s first years of life, Derek probably traveled as many miles via four wheeler as car. Gary taught Derek all the things Gary loved to do as a child such as turkey, quail and pheasant hunting along with fishing and raising cattle on the farm.

On Aug. 24, 1987, Lindsay Rachelle was born, the first girl born into the Peterman family in over 60 years. Gary was proud to have a girl. Gary taught Lindsay how to fish and how to shoot a gun. They enjoyed shooting at targets for practice together. He loved watching Lindsay play high school athletics and attended as many of her basketball and softball games as he could.

On May 2, 2010, just three days before his 60th birthday, Gary became a papa for the first time when Quintin Cole was born to Derek and Chelsea. Two years later they had another child, Clayton Jasper, who was born on March 28, 2012. Gary loved being a papa and teaching the boys about the cattle and farming. Gary enjoyed any activity with the boys from playing games to reading books to drawing pictures. On Saturday mornings Gary would drive out to Derek’s house, pick up him and the boys and they would go to the farm. They always had a good trip to the farm, where they would feed, and admire the bulls, cows and calves.

In early October 2016 Gary suffered a severe stroke. Complications from that stroke over the next six months lead to dire health problems. With his family by his side Gary fought bravely against multiple infections and complications. Gary fought his final six months regularly reinforcing to his loved ones that he was starting down the road to recovery. The road and the battle ended for Gary in the early morning hours of April 7, 2017.

Gary was a good ole boy. He was a great man, and the greatest husband, father and grandfather that he could be.

Services were Tuesday, April 11, at Hathaway-Peterman Chapel with Rev. Kent Parson officiating. Burial was in Robinson Cemetery, Collins, under the direction of Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Home, Wheatland.