Zachary Paul Peterson

KEWANEE - Zachary Paul Peterson, 26, of Kewanee, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at his home.

Private services will be held at Princeville Cemetery, but friends are encouraged to attend the visitation which will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 14 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to the Zachary Peterson Memorial Fund in c/o State Bank of Toulon (Kewanee Banking Center).

Zachary was born February 25, 1992 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, the son of Ginger K. Peterson. His mother, Ginger Schupbach, was tragically killed in an automobile accident on July 12, 2003. Her sister, Rebecca and her husband Robert Heck of Kewanee, adopted him, cared for him and loved him as their own son.

Rebecca and Robert survive of Kewanee, as do his cousins that he lived with for many years and he knew as his family; Alexis, Simon and Benjamin who knew him as their big brother. Zachary is also survived by his siblings, Jake of Avon, Allie of Galva, Nathan, stationed at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA, Andrew of Avon and Ethel of Peoria, his maternal grandparents, Ronald and June Peterson of Wyoming and several aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and half-siblings. He was preceded in death by a brother, Daniel and two uncles, Jacob and Nathaniel.

Zachary attended Kewanee Schools until he was accepted to Phillip J. Rock Center and School for the deaf and disabled in Glenn Ellyn. He attended there until he graduated in 2014. He had since lived at home and had begun his favorite endeavor at Abilities Plus where he made many new friends and looked forward to going to his work every day. He had competed at the Special Olympics and had won many awards.

He was a member of the Princeville Presbyterian Church and he enjoyed puzzles, motorcycles, football and family outings. Zac was a boy so filled with love and his favorite things to do were to help cook meals for his family, help with anything he could and to give the biggest, sweetest and warmest hugs. Zac truly loved his family and his time with them. He was a young man who couldn’t hear but was always there to listen and to help anyone in need. He will be sorrowfully missed as life will simply never be the same without him.

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