Jan Marie Peterson

1960 - 2021

Jan Marie Peterson
March 28, 1960 -
January 19, 2021
Albuquerque, NM
Jan Marie Peterson, 60, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Daughter of John A. and Dorothy B. Petersen, Jan was born in Salinas, CA on March 28, 1960. The family moved to Santa Cruz in 1961 where she grew up. Jan loved animals, especially horses, and some of her fondest memories were of her blue ribbon championship Western Pleasure riding days in 4H and at Graham Hill Rodeo Grounds. She graduated from Santa Cruz High School with a desire to pursue a nursing degree, and after 2 years at Chico State, she followed her father and grandfather's collegiate path and attended Creighton University in Omaha for her B.S.N.
While at Creighton, she met her first husband, Jim, and they relocated to Albuquerque where she pursued a career in nursing and where her first child, Jacob, was born. She continued her love of nursing and eventually met her current husband, Terry, and had two more sons, Troy and Travis, now grown and building lives of their own. She continued to call Albuquerque home up until the time of her death.
Jan loved family and mostly, she loved her boys. Jan also struggled with a number of health issues. But through it all, her love for her three boys always prevailed.
Jan will be mostly remembered for her beautiful blue eyes, her wicked sense of humor and great laugh, and her courage to "keep on keeping on" as she would say, often in the face of great personal challenge. She will be remembered by those who loved her as a gentle soul who made her own difference in the world. Kind, caring, a volunteer to those in need, she touched many lives. Everyone she met became a friend in some way. Her family wishes her peace on her journey and pray that she finds a beautiful resting place, perhaps riding her horse in a tall field of grass with the wind in her hair.
Jan is survived by her husband, Terry Peterson, of Albuquerque, sons Troy and Travis Peterson of Albuquerque, son Jacob Retzer (Melinda) of North Dakota; brother Jay Petersen (Darlene Jenkins) of CA; and sister Judy Neall Epstein,( Victor) of Sisters, OR and La Quinta, CA.
Donations can be made in honor of Jan's love of animals and her courageous life to Animal Humane New Mexico Westside Adoption Center, at 10141 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque NM 87114.