Vi (Viola) Peeters

There must have been a square dance in heaven that needed one more special person to make a set, so the Lord sent an angel to guide Viola as she danced her way to heaven on January 14, 2023 at the age of 88.

Vi (Viola) Peeters was born August 2, 1934 to the late Andrew and Marie (Champeau) Jeckle in Green Bay. Always a hard worker, Vi grew up on a vegetable farm and learned to drive at the age of 13 so she could deliver cauliflower. She had a life-long love of square dancing, and it was at one of these dances where she met her husband, Irv. Vi and Irv were married February 17, 1953 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bay Settlement. The two farmed together and built their family on their dairy farm for nearly 70 years.

In addition to farming, Vi had a special talent for vegetable and flower gardening. She rarely showed up to a square dance or the fair without flowers in hand. She and Irv were members of the Green Bay Squares and Huss Plus square dance clubs and attended many square dance conventions in addition to being involved in the Rockland 4-H Club and Brown County Fair (where many first-place ribbons were won!). Vi enjoyed annual trips with her three sisters and her weekly trips with her sister Darlene. Some of her favorite pastimes were riding in the golf cart, teaching her grandkids how to drive it, pontooning on the Fox River with family and friends, cooking for her kids and grandkids (cream chicken and mashed potatoes were the favorite) and square, round and polka dancing. She would welcome anyone with an open house and an open heart, and she hosted most holidays at the farm.

Vi is survived by her husband Irv; children: Marcia Peeters, Cheryl (Steve) Thomas, Dan (Linda) Peeters, Jeanne (Glenn) Brooks-McVey and Kathy (Scott Kasten) Peeters; grandchildren: Nathan (Sarah) Thomas, Nick (Dana) Thomas, Nolan (Amy) Thomas, Jessica Kussow, Matt (Brooke) Peeters, Laura Ledvina, Neil (Chhengre) Brooks, Hannah (Mitch) Kiley, Tami (Mike) Vieaux, Mike (Anne) McVey, Keri (Chris) DePas, Summer Van Pay, Brandi Van Pay, Lake Van Pay, Jakob Kasten and Cambria Kasten; great-grandchildren: Sarah, Grace, Caroline, Easton, Gia, Drew, Lucas, Jack, Taylor, Cayleen, Ariel, Nora, Addison, Hunter, Brandon, Brooke and Ethan; great-great-grandchild Emmy; sisters: Joan Strebel, Gloria (Gary) Leibert and Darlene DeGroot; as well as Irv’s sister: Florence (Don) Baeten and sister-in-law Vicki (Cory) Collins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Milan Jeckle; step-father Bob Maricque; Irv’s parents Esther and CM Peeters; Irv’s siblings: Bob (Pat) Peeters, Gen (Rollie) Smits and Larry Peeters.

Family and friends may visit at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N Webster Ave., De Pere, on Wednesday, January 18, from 3:00pm to 7:00pm with a prayer service at 6:30pm. Visitation will continue on Thursday at St. Mary Catholic Church, 4805 Sportsman Drive, Ledgeview, from 10:00am until 10:45am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am with Fr. Ben Johnson officiating. Lunch at the Swan Club immediately following service. Entombment will be in the Allouez Chapel Mausoleum.

Our family would like to thank Unity Hospice and all the doctors and nurses involved in her care at St. Mary and St. Vincent Hospitals.