Dr. Clifton E. Peterson

Dr. Clifton E. Peterson, 99, long-time orthopedic surgeon in Kenosha, WI, passed away on Friday, February 20, 2026 in Kenosha.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church in Kenosha with Rev. Lance Lovell officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church.

A private family service will be held on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner, Iowa with burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery in Dows. Graveside military rites will be conducted by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.

Dr. Clifton Edward Peterson, the son of Charles Wesley and Ida Moncina (Ingebritson) Peterson, was born on February 4, 1927, at Dows, Iowa. He attended school at Dows, where he graduated in 1945 as valedictorian of his class. From 1945-46, he served his country in the U.S. Navy, with the rank of Third-Class Petty Officer as a Radar Tech. He received an Honorable discharge. Clif 's education included a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Carleton College at Northfield, MN, a medical degree at the University Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, NY, an internship specializing in Internal Medicine at the University of Minnesota Hospitals, and four years of training in Orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. For six years, Clifton was an associate of Dr. Chester Sattler in Kenosha, WI. In 1967, he set up his own practice, which he continued until his retirement in 1997. On June 14, 1998, he married Gladys Rose Strauss in Kenosha. They continued to live in Kenosha where they were active in many community activities and traveled throughout the world. Spending part of the winter in Cancun was always a highlight! He was especially pleased to have been able to be a part of the Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

Clifton was a member of the Congregational Church and later First Presbyterian Church in Kenosha. He was also a member of the Kenosha Rotary Club of which he was a Paul Harris Fellow, the Masonic Lodge as a 32nd Degree member and JESTER AND DACA. His professional membership groups include the Mid-America Orthopedic Association, Milwaukee Orthopedic Society, Norwegian-American Orthopedic Society, Marquette Medical School – assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin – assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Association of North America, American Board of Disability Analysts, Hawthorn Hollow Philanthropic Nature Preserve Board of Directors, Kenosha County Library Board of Directors, Alfons Gallery Board of Directors (Milwaukee), Shriners in Milwaukee, Elks Lodge, Museum Committee – City of Kenosha, Danish Brotherhood Lodge No. 14, Hand Society of the Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Alumni Association and Mayo Clinic Orthopedic Society.

Clif enjoyed Thursday afternoon classical music played on his Steinway piano by Mary Ann Lackovich, his Wednesday morning Bible studies at the Presbyterian Church as well as the Saturday morning Breakfast Club at the Kenosha Country Club.

The following are scholarship funds set up by Clifton: Ingebritson/Peterson, Carleton College, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Carthage College and Hooray for Dows.

Clif is survived by his wife, Gladys of Kenosha; 13 nieces and nephews: Dean (Beverly) Cataldo, Don (Inga) Cataldo, Kathryn Elling, Karen (Gerald) Pedersen, Barbara (Roger) Gatchel, Dennis (Carol) Toft, Elizabeth “Betsy” (Lester) Holcomb, Dr. James (Julie) Rang, Holly Rang (fiancé, Eber Hampton), Jolene (Kevin) Dicken, Kristen (Jason) Goodman, Rachel (David J.) Walsh, Ray (Carrie) Peterson; sister-in-law, Aleida Humpf; many great nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Chuck LaPlante and his wife, Pam and their daughter, Courtney.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Berneace Cataldo and husband Sam, Margaret Toft and husband, Louis, Marcella Rang and former husband, Dr Robert Rang, Calvin Peterson and former wife, Camilla Peterson, and Ray Peterson; other family members include: Larry Dean Cataldo, Martin Toft, Roberta Rang, John Rang, James Peterson, Jerry Peterson, Chad Peterson and Walter Elling.