of Little Rock, AR
July 26, 1945 - August 27, 2014
Daniel Richard Peterson, 69, Little Rock, departed this life Wednesday, August 27, 2014. He was born in Beardstown, Illinois, July 26, 1945, to Algot and Edythe Peterson. His parents and a son, Tim Hoffman, preceded him in death. Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 24 years, Donna Hoffman Peterson; his children, Reggie Angel, Marc Peterson, Darcie Harvell, and Kyle Harvell; grandchildren, Taylor Anderson, Timothy Hoffman, Tayler Albillar, Autumn Leilani Harvell, Lydia Harvell; and great granddaughter, Emeri Killenberger. He is also remembered by his sister, Carolyn (Charles) Comstock; brother, Charles (Martha) Peterson, former wife and friend, Eileen Peterson, and many nieces and nephews, whom he adored and who adored him.
Dan was a Green Beret and Russian linguist in the US Army (1966-1969). He was also in the Arkansas National Guard (1988-2005) and served as a Chief Warrant Officer CW4, STARC HQ, Camp Robinson, NLR. Dan had been a member of the American Legion (past president), Forty and Eight, and Vietnam Veterans Association.
After serving in the Army, he and his brother started their own pressure washing business in California in 1970. Dan later earned a Masters in Public Administration (1987) from California Lutheran College, Thousand Oaks.
Dan began his Federal career as a Veterans Benefits Counselor in Los Angeles (1974-1978), then reassigned to San Antonio as a personnel management specialist (1978-1979). Dan was Chief of Human Resources for the Department of Veterans Administration in Grand Junction, Colorado (1979-1980), Salt Lake City (1980-1985) and VA Medical Centers in Little Rock and North Little Rock (1985-2006). During his career, he was cited for numerous special achievement awards and served as a member of the Human Resources Managers Council, Federal Executive Association, and founding officer and president of the Central Arkansas Federal Personnel Council.
Dan was proof that miracles do happen. Diagnosed in 2003 with metastatic pancreatic cancer and given 6 months to live, he sought treatment from Dr. Issam Makhoul at UAMS. After several years of chemotherapy, Dan was pronounced cancer free. Dan relied on humor and staying in the moment. Dr. Makhoul's innovative approach to medicine, Dan's positive attitude, and divine intervention helped him through one of the most aggressive cancers known. Dan's story inspired others to never give up and keep searching for treatments.
The family would like to thank all of the nurses and doctors at UAMS for their service to Dan over the past 11 years.
He was an avid reader of current affairs and politics, sciences, and history. He was also fluent in Spanish. Of the Catholic faith, Dan was a gentle, loving man, who touched the lives of many throughout his life. He will always be remembered for his positive attitude and love of family and friends.
Visitation will be Monday, September 1, 2014 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Roller-Chenal in Little Rock. Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 10:00 a.m., at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home 13801 Chenal Parkway Little Rock, Arkansas (501) 224-8300. Interment will immediately follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.
Our family will miss Danny and his humor very much .our condolences to his family and friends
Such a good man. Thank you Danny for being my best man at the wedding of Susan Contreras and I back in 1984.
God bless all the years you walked the earth and the eternity that follows.
My best wishes to all friends and family of Dan.
We were blessed.
Will see you again my friend on the other side. Anthony Ashcraft.
Reggie,
So sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. I'll be keeping you and your family in my prayers.
my prayers are with you and your family.
Donna, We're so sorry to hear of your loss. I never got the pleasure of meeting your husband but I'm sure he was a great guy.
Will be thinking of you,
Ben
Donna.....I am so sorry for your loss. When I met Dan, It made me happy for you as I could tell what a loving and committed relationship you two shared. Thinking of you and sending love.
Ces
To Reggie, Eileene and Family
We are so sorry for the loss of your father. Jehovah God knows your pain as well having given his own precious son in our behalf . (John 3:16) Also know that you have a Savior in Jesus Christ that also experienced a great loss of his friend Lazarus so he knows RIGHT NOW exactly how you are feeling (John 11:35, 38). May you find comfort from Jehovah's word the Bible in this time of great sorrow and temporary loss. (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those in any sort of tribulation through the comfort with which we ourselves are being comforted by God. Take comfort in Jesus' words found at (John 5:28) Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out. Jesus’ promise of a resurrection of our dead loved ones is a source of great comfort and hope. Know that we love you and mourn with you.
Donna - I am so very sorry for your loss of your beloved husband Dan. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family,
Donna I want you to know we are sorry for your loss, you are loved by many
Your friend and co-worker
Marilyn
Dan was the quintessential professional and gentleman. Heaven has gained a wonderful angel. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Donna,
I am so sad to hear the news of Dan’s passing. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Donna & family, I was so saddened to hear of Dan's passing. He was a really special person and definitely a poster child for the impact that a good attitude, positive outlook and faith can have on a disease process. I was thrilled when he was featured in the BCBS magazine. Mr. Peterson (as I always called him) was the best chief of Human Resources that the VA has ever had, and I was proud to have been a fellow employee at CAVHS for the last 21 years of his career. He always had a smile and a twinkle in his eye and a friendly word when our paths crossed. He was a strong leader and a good person. I also enjoyed hanging out with you two when Kyle and Jeffrey were taking Taekwondo. Hard to believe that was almost 20 years ago. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Donna
I met Dan years ago as a member of V16 Workforce Development Advisory Council. I immediately liked Dan, his way of making everyone feel important and valued was wonderful. Over the years of working together we became friends. He was a person whose opinion I valued because he gave sound advice and was an excellent role model for all of us. I will miss him and I will pray for you and all of your family. I know Dan will be in heaven praying for you!
Donna and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Dan made you a very happy person and you will cherish those memories forever in your heart. It is those memories and good times that will keep him always in you and your families heart forever.
I don't know where to,begin. Dan was my boss and work mentor from the I started in the VA until even past his retirement. There isn't enough room in this box for,me to thank him enough for all he did for me and my career. I would not be where I am today if it weren't for him. I will always be indebted to,Mr Peterson. A great person, mentor, and friend. I will miss him dearly. God bless the Peterson faimily.
Dan was one of the finest men that I have ever known. When we were first informed of his cancer, we did not expect a very positive outcome. We did not know the strength of Dan!
As time went by, I was so impressed with his positive attitude and belief in God that I knew that Dan would fight a very strong fight and might extend his time here. I hoped so.
His struggle was not an easy one but he always did his best and that encouraged and gave all of us the feeling that he would win in the end. He did what few were able to do.
I am so proud that Dan Peterson was my boss and my friend. I will never forget his strength and his kindness for those around him. I certainly am a better person for having known him.
Donna, God bless you and your family .
Dan Peterson is one of the finest men I have ever known and worked with. Always with an encouraging word, always with a twinkle in his eye even when I know he didn't feel well. He made HR at the VA what it should be. I am proud to have worked with him, and also to have known him as a friend. Go with God.
Dan was one of the most intelligent, kindest, wittiest gentlemen it has been my pleasure to know. I am grateful that he was an influence on my daughter. Heaven has gained another bright point of light. I am so sorry for your loss, but proud to have been in the company of such a championship fighter.
Donna & family: Dan was a special person with a song in his heart. I am glad the Lord gave ya more years together.
Donna - thinking of you and the family at this difficult time. So glad to have known and worked for Mr. Peterson - he made each employee feel like a very important part of the team. He loved you so much! So glad y'all were able to enjoy an extra 11-12 years that the Drs. didnt know about - but then again they didn't know Dan!! I've never seen such a win-win approach to life as his! He made such a huge difference in so many people's lives and mentored so many in their careers. Thinking of you in the coming days and praying for peace. Love and hugs - Judy Crowder
I'm so sorry to hear of Mr. Peterson's (I never could call him Dan) passing. I'm so proud he kicked cancer's butt for so long. I never saw him without a smile. Every time he saw me he would purposefully botch my last name (for years!)
He was sincere with his kindness. We missed him when he was gone. I'm happy I got to see him a while back. I hope he's up there playing golf with "HENRY"!
Donna and family, I remember our times up at Ft. Roots, being neighbors and Dan being my boss. He always was a gentleman, compassionate friend and boss who made working for him easy. I also remember the prayer service at New Life Church, praying for him specifically, believing that God touched him that night and answered the prayers of many. God blessed him with many more years of life and he was an inspiration to many! May God comfort you Donna, and the family as you adjust to the loss of Dan here on this earth! Love!
My condolences to Donna and all of Dan's family on this loss of such a great guy. My life like many others was certainly enriched through the relationship I had with Dan as friend, neighbor, and fellow Service Chief at CAVHS. So much could be said but I love that Dan sought out and received the touch of God in his life and was a living example of that miraculous power for years. May God grant peace to Dan for eternity!
Without a doubt Dan was one of our most respected men we have ever known. He was our Superman! He will be greatly missed but he definitely left his mark on the world. Love you Danny.
I will miss you my friend. We had many wonderful moments together starting back when you were at Grand Junction, and Salt Lake, We shared a lot of great times at Fort Roots. May you rest in peace
the employees of Kroger 622(highway 10 store)send their condolences to the family of donna Peterson,he is with the angels now.mary,nancy.pam,janet.
So sad to hear the news of Mr. Peterson's passing. He was an awesome mentor and friend. I will miss him. Thinking about all the Peterson family and friends.
It was with heavy heart to hear of Mr. P's passing. He was a great boss and always had your back. I pray for God to be with his family in this time of grief.
They say love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies.” ~ William Penn
I will remebr the parience and time he shared with me as HR leader, here at the VA. Always ready with an infectious smile and sage advice. Not only an advisor but a friend of 30 years. "Go rest high on that mountain," my firend you deserve it.
I'm very sad to hear of Dan's passing, but happy that he was able to live so long after the cancer diagnosis. I enjoyed the years I worked for him. He was certainly the best boss I ever worked for, and a really nice guy. I regret I will miss the funeral since I will be in Oregon with my daughter and family all week. Best wishes to Donna and the rest of the family.
Donna and family:
I was so very saddened to hear of Dan's passing. I worked for many, many years with him at the JLM VA Medical Center. I will always remember that he had a smile for everyone. He was a wonderful administrator; firm but always fair. Things ran very smoothly for the years he was there. Dan was the consummate gentleman with a wicked sense of humor. He was an inspiration to many and faced his illness with dignity and courage. May God Bless you in this most difficult time.