James R. Peterson

Funeral services to celebrate the life of James R. Peterson, 77, of Davenport, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 13, 2026 at Grandview Baptist Church, Davenport. Burial will be in Oakdale Memorial Gardens, Davenport. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service Friday at church. Memorials may be made to the family to establish a memorial at a later date. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Jim died Thursday, February 5, 2026 at Celebrate of Moline.

James Roger Peterson was born on March 11, 1948, in Des Moines, Iowa, a son of Roger and Barbara (Lindquist) Peterson. Jim moved from Des Moines to Bettendorf in 1964 and graduated from Bettendorf High School in 1966. He attended Augustana College and later transferred to the University of Iowa where Jim graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1970. He went on to Central Missouri State University and earned an MBA. Jim proudly served our country in the Air Force from 1971 until 1975 where he was the base editor for the newspaper. His tour of duty included Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, Ubon Air Force Base, Thailand, and Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. At the time of his honorable discharge, he had obtained the rank of sergeant.

Jim was united in marriage to Diane (Osterberg) Ruge on April 15, 1978, in Otho, Iowa.

Jim’s career began with Avco Financial Services, where he worked in branches in Marshall, Missouri, Independence, Missouri, and later was the manager of the Fort Dodge, Iowa branch. In 1978, the Peterson’s moved to Davenport as Jim went to work for Brenton Bank as a loan officer. He worked for various other banks including Davenport Bank, Rock Island Bank, Metrobank, IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union. He retired from banking in 2013. He later worked for AlliedBarton Security for 10 years.

Jim had great faith, accepting Jesus as his savior when he was seven years old. He was active in many churches as an adult Sunday school teacher, financial secretary, treasurer, Deacon, and Elder.

Sports also played a big part in Jim’s life. As he grew up, he excelled in Little League baseball and loved playing neighborhood football, baseball, and basketball. When he was 10 years old, he started playing golf with his father and uncles. At Bettendorf, he played golf, football, and baseball, and played golf at Augie. Golf was a lifelong passion for Jim. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and Green Bay Packers.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Diane; son, David (Tisha) Peterson and their children: Aaron and Adam; step-children: Kelli (Pat) Doyle, and their children: Joe, Peter (Sarah), and Tim; and Jeff Ruge and his children: Gannon (Tess), Leah (Atte Helenius), Kiley, Kenzie and Kayla Ruge; and great-grandchildren: Louis, Jane, Weston, Wyatt, and Waylon; siblings: Judy (Mike) McGoldrick, Springfield, Missouri, Joy (Brent) Anderson, Moline, and Jan (Wayne) Richert, St. Albans, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Lisa Mason, LeClaire and Barbara Messerly, Ft. Dodge; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.