Reaching out just today regarding a long ago project Laura, Pete & I worked on, I am so saddened to find out that Pete left us 2 years ago. I was so looking forward to hearing his happy voice and catching up. I have saved 2 bottles of his wine, some of the best I've ever had and I think this weekend one will be opened in his honor since I won't get to do it with he and Laura like I thought someday I would. Pete, the heavens are a happy place with you and your smile there. Thanks,
Gigi Ryan,
Mt Shasta, CA

Laura, I want you to know that Pete's great smile will live on within me and it was an absolute privilege to care for him. I make it a priority to express gratitude every morning I wake in honor of all who have passed before me. With Love and Gratitude, Shannon.

Pete, I'm keeping my promise!

Pete - my Finnish buddy. We were the snow shovelers at the McKirdy's cabin because we loved working on the deck and steps and we were industrious Finns. Pete was easy going, fun loving, and always helpful. Our five-couple dinner group met regularly and Peter entertained and joked around. And guess who insisted on doing dishes and cleaning up - Pete was in charge. On the artistic side, when Hank found a Dutch painting showcased in a magazine, he asked Peter if he could duplicate it in stained glass since that was the art form Pete was currently doing. And he created the stained glass window which hung in our back yard for years. Traveling with Pete and Laura was always an adventure, Cape Cod and Maine were the best. I will never forget the Pete smile. Thanks, Pete, for all our years of friendship!

You are missed by so many, Pete... As a friend, I will miss your smile, sense of humor, thoughtfulness, and kindness. Always willing to help, especially in the kitchen after being a dinner guest. I always appreciated that thoughtful gesture.
Your friendship was a treasure and will never be forgotten.
 

Laura, what a beautiful memorial website! We love all of the photos and reading through the other tributes. When we think of Pete, like others, we remember his smile, his inclusiveness, generosity and his unstoppable good humor. Tim and Pete were often paired together for golf and Tim remembers that around the 15th hole, Pete's energy would start to diminish. Their unspoken "deal" was that Tim would then ask him if he needed a candy bar and Pete would would run for the golf cart to quickly restore his energy. 
Even in FL, we think of Pete when Tim is working on the bocce court or when we are playing. Pete will continue to be missed, but we are all blessed with good memories. 
Blessings as you all navigate the grief journey.

Laura, this is such a nice memorial you have created for Pete. It shows how much Pete meant to so many people. We remember meeting you two at bocce and you both were such friendly people! Always smiles on your faces, unless Pete was working on the court—then you were the only one smiling!! And he sure loved his old Model A—so much fun riding to Sutter Creek in it to get pizza & view poppies with you! Rest In Peace, Pete. We’ll think of you every time we throw a bocce ball, between sips of wine. 

Greg and I met Pete and Laura many years ago, at a Block party that was hosted in front of their house and are grateful to have met them both. We saw the love that they had for each other.
The first thing we noticed about Pete was his constant smile! He always greeted us with a genuine smile upon his face.
He had a way of making a person want to smile and laugh when he was around. His positive attitude was contagious, and his stories were fun.
Pete will be missed by us, and so many others. We feel blessed to have had the pleasure of knowing him.

It is with loving feeling that our friend Pete is honored.
When Ron and I think of Petee we think about the fun times we had playing golf, drinking wine and enjoying each others company. 
Pete was always so helpful giving us advice (especially on our golf game )
and much needed advice on how to fix things in our home and generally ended up doing it himself.
We will miss him. Our love and thoughts are with Laura and family always.

So many fun times in Greenhorn Creek and in Palm Desert. Pete was always the life of the party and could always be counted to make us laugh. A special treat was he took us for a ride in his vintage car! Pete will certainly be missed by many!

Pete had such a crazy sense of humor. Always laughing and making jokes. He and Laura were made such a beautiful couple.  Pete will truly be missed around Greenhorn Creek. Rest in peace my friend. 

I first met Pete back in 2007 when I began tending bar at Camps. It was so easy for us to become fast friends. I looked forward to seeing Pete’s smiling face and his cheery disposition. I have many wonderful memories of this generous, loving man, but what happened at Camps will have to stay at Camps I am fortunate enough to call his lovely wife Laura my friend as well and that I was able to spend some time with Pete, Laura and Oliver last year. I cherish those moments, I miss you Pete, see you on the other side 

I will miss Pete's smile. He always had a bright and inviting smile that lit up his face. He will be and is truly missed by me and so many others.
Jean

We remember with great fondness the good times we had with Pete and Laura in Greenhorn Creek and here in Palm Desert. He was so much fun to be with and always had that great smile. He will certainly be missed and may he Rest in Peace.

We had the opportunity to share so many experiences in Greenhorn Creek with Pete and Laura. He taught us the skill to make wine-from grape picking to the final bottling and labeling. Bocce was always an event we looked forward to and his pride in the court he built. His hobbies ranged from restoring his antique car to woodworking and were admired by all of us. His love of his landscape in his patio and the dining table he made were so special. We do miss Peetee!

Peter dear. I am glad to have known you as a little boy and as a grown man. You were always so talented and helpful. You are greatly missed. Much love to you and to Laura and family Auntie Lea

Pete was a special person to me and I will miss him. Our Liars Dice games will always be remembered fondly. But our one on one discussions where we could share our thoughts and feelings freely is what I appreciated most about him.. Rest in peace my friend. 

Laura and family I am so sorry for your tremendous loss. He was part of a fun fun couple and life is changed forever with his passing. I always remember when I first met Pete in the 70s . I said to Laura, Pete is so handsome and she looked at me with such a proud but comical expression and said “he burps and farts”. His smile though and the twinkle in his eyes when he looked at Laura will also be a lasting memory. Rest In Peace Pete. We will meet again someday.

When Jon and I think of Pete, it's always with Laura by his side. They were such a wonderful couple, full of laughter and love.
Working with Laura, I enjoyed hearing all about their day to day antics, and seeing Pete, and his smile, at the get togethers. 
After retirement, we so enjoyed following their adventures on FaceBook, as they traveled the globe to so many distant places. When the Lord calls our loved ones home, he leaves a gift of memories to comfort those left behind. 
Goodbye Pete, may you rest in peace.
May Laura and family fill their hearts with happy memories.

I miss him. Whenever I or Julie needed help, he was there. He always had such a great sense of Humor.

How do you fit 76 years into a few paragraphs?

Peter Michael Pesonen, best known as Peteee, passed away at home, surrounded by his devoted family, on November 26, 2020 at the age of 76. He fought a fairly short but valiant battle with Mesothelioma.

Pete was born in Deadwood, South Dakota on June 12, 1944 to Marie Louise and Paul Emil Pesonen. He was the fifth of six children. At age four he moved to California, in a Woody station wagon with his family, and they settled in Concord. He attended Queen of All Saints School and Clayton Valley High School where he graduated in 1962. While a student at Diablo Valley College he met the love of his life, Laura Dunnebacke. Pete and Laura were anxious to get married and as neither one was overly excited with school they began their careers. Pete's entire vocation involved retail management and outside sales. 

At 22 years of age he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. For 54 years he was a conscientious and diligent warrior and therefore developed no complications commonly known to long-term diabetics. Pete was called the "poster child for diabetes".

In 1967 Pete and Laura were married and moved to Walnut Creek where they resided until they were expecting their first child. They purchased a new home in San Ramon where they lived for 32 years. Their first child, Robin Marie, was born in 1971 and four years later their son Ryan Michael joined the family.

Pete cherished his family more than anything. He was passionate about teaching his children and grandchildren how to do things and the satisfaction of "if you're going to do a job you might as well do it right". He spent many years coaching his kids in soccer, softball and baseball. If there was anyone who loved life and lived it to the fullest it was Pete. He was always busy creating or building something, repairing things and helping others. Each morning he would wake up and say "gotta get going" and "what should I be doing today?"  His daily goal was to make people laugh and help others. He had a wonderful and unique sense of humor and loved to share it. Pete was a true extrovert who never met a stranger. He was tender-hearted, tenacious, happy, out-spoken, comedic, hard-working and fun-loving and had a contagious smile that would light up the room.

In 2003 Pete and Laura retired and moved to their dream home in Angels Camp. They had always wished to live in a golf course community and found the perfect one, Greenhorn Creek. Pete was lucky enough to play many rounds of golf during his 16 years of retirement. He also loved to travel and was fortunate to see many states, countries and lovely sights, Paris being his favorite. Pete had many creative talents including building beautiful furniture, landscaping, stained glass and winemaking just to name a few. Often he would see something in a store and go home and reproduce it, to the same quality if not better.

Pete purchased a 1929 Model A Ford to which he devoted much time and energy in restoring. It was a beautiful classic car and a true labor of love. He delighted in touring with friends and participating in local parades. He also built an impressive bocce ball court at his home where he hosted many friends and neighbors in bocce tournaments.

Pete left behind his wife of 53 years, Laura, his daughter Robin Tsakos, son Ryan Pesonen, son-in-law Taso Tsakos and daughter-in-law Meighan Pesonen. He adored his four grandchildren; Wyatt Pesonen, Brayden Pesonen, Zoe Tsakos and Aria Tsakos who named him Grampa, Papa, Hot Chili and Popcorn. There are three surviving siblings; Paul Pesonen, Mary Lee Michael and Cheryl Brindley along with his brother-in-law Don St. Claire and sisters-in-law Mary Jean St. Claire and Bobbie Pesonen. He was predeceased by his sister Joan Hansen, brother John Pesonen, brother-in-law George Dunnebacke and nephew Alan Pesonen. He also left behind numerous beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, many friends and his faithful kitty Oliver.

There will be a private celebration of life in June at Lake Tahoe, another of his favorite places.

Until we meet again, rest in peace Peteee. You are truly missed!