Jack Peters, beloved husband, father, friend, and colleague, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the home where he lived with Betty, his wife of 33 years.

Jack lived to be 83 years of age.  He was born on March 11, 1938 and passed on September 4, 2021.  He was a loving family man, and friend to many in his local and professional communities.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Harriett Peters and by his grandson, Skylar.  He is survived by Betty and their son, Lee, as well as his sons David and Mark, grandchildren Chris and Aubrey, and great grandchildren, Joel and Hattie.

He grew up in Berea, OH, a suburb of Cleveland.  He graduated from Berea High School, after which he attended Baldwin-Wallace College.

He retired in 2010 after a 51-year career with Loren Cook Company.  He was hired by the company’s founder, Loren Cook, in Berea, OH in 1959 at the age of 21.  At the time, he was working at a local gas station that Loren frequented, and Jack’s attitude and personality made such an impression on Loren that he hired him to work at the manufacturing plant.  Jack started out in the shop making fans.  Loren valued Jack’s work ethic and dedication, and over the years moved him into ever-increasing roles of responsibility.  In 1970, Jack agreed to relocate to Springfield, MO where he met Betty and remained for this rest of his life.  There he worked with Loren’s son and company president, Jerry Cook, at the Springfield plant for the remainder of his career.  In 1971, Jack was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing, working closely with both Loren and Jerry.  For the entire 51 years of his career, he was a loyal and dedicated Cook employee, and made many significant contributions to the company.

Jack was a people person and could connect with those from all walks of life.  He had an infectious laugh and a knack for telling a great story.  He was an avid fan of boxing and football, loved to play tennis and was very good at it; and especially loved to fish. Jack and Betty spent many, many weekends at their lake house on Bull Shoals where they enjoyed sharing their love of fishing, the Ozarks, and the lake life with others.  After a good day’s fishing, he and his fellow fisherman would retire to the cabin to enjoy ‘Betty Burgers’ and maybe even a cold beer, while regaling each other with tales of ‘the one that got away’.  Jack also enjoyed the slot machines from time-to-time, whether in Vegas or at one of the area casinos.  Something about the sound, lights and the payout made his heart quicken and he was always up for a road trip to take a pull on the old ‘one armed bandit’.

Jack loved his food and especially a good steak.  At one sitting in a San Francisco steak house, several people witnessed him polish off a 48 oz porterhouse followed up by a Scotch Old Fashioned.  Didn’t even break a sweat.

People were drawn to Jack, and it seemed that he knew everyone in Springfield and in the HVAC industry.  You couldn’t go anywhere with him that people weren’t stopping him to say hi and to share the important events in their lives.

Jack touched many lives and will be greatly missed.

Private family service will be at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of Greenlawn Funeral Home East.