The Mass of Christian Burial for Julius "Joe" Peters, age 89 of Watauga, will be held at 10:00am Saturday, February 2, 2019 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Watauga with Fr. Tony Grossenburg, officiating.  Burial will be in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery with full military afforded by the Ralph T. Ankerson Amercian Legion Post #279 of McIntosh.

A Rosary Service will be held at 7:00pm on Friday evening at St. Michael's Catholic Church.

Special music will be provided by Connie Maier organist and Michael Peters, soloist.

Serving as casketbearers are Matt Wilson, Michael Peters, Dale Baumeister, John Baumeister, John Hupp and Justin Hoffman.  All family and friends are considered honorary bearers.

Julius "Joe" Peters was born on January 11, 1930, on the Peters Homestead in Adams Co., ND north of Thunder Hawk to Clark and Iva (Beesley) Peters. He attended at local country school through the eighth grade.  Joe work for area farmers and ranchers in the Thunder Hawk area following the death of his mother in 1946.

On July 10, 1951, Joe was inducted into the US Army and was Honorable Discharged on July 9, 1953.  Following his discharge he returned to Thunder Hawk and operated his own gravel hauling business.

On October 29, 1958, he was united in marriage to Rose Etta Baumeister at St. Michael's Catholic Church.  He began working for the South Dakota Department of Transportation, a career that spanned from 1959 until his retirement in 1992.  He retired at age 62 and continued to living in Watauga. Joe loved working on his hobby farm where he raised cattle, hogs, and chickens.  He spent countless hours tinkering and taking things apart just to see if he could get them back together.  He enjoyed fishing, and raising a large vegetable garden.

He received his Honorary High School Diploma at age 80.  He loved reading and loved to learn and encouraged others to do so.  Joe was involved in his church and was acknowledged for many years of service.

Joe passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at his home in Watauga.

Surviving family members include his son, Joel, Watauga, SD; 2 daughters, Michelle Nelson, Watauga, SD; Janine Peters, Minneapolis, MN; 2 grandchildren, Nichole (Matt) Wilson and Michael Peters, 2 great grandchildren, Kadin and Shylah Wilson; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Peters, Lemmon, SD.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Rose; son Michael Peters; daughter Iva Rose Peters in infancy; 6 brothers, Gordon, Donald, Gaylord, Robert, Glenn, Herbert, and Lewis Peters, and 1 sister, Evelyn Gupman.

Visitation will on Friday from 6 to 7 at the church in Watauga and on Saturday one hour prior to services at the church in Watauga.