Arthur John Peterson

Arthur John “AJ” Peterson, 76, of Thomasville, passed away Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at the High Point Medical Center following a serious illness. His strength, kindness and resilience throughout his diagnosis and battle was characteristic of his personality.

He was born March 8, 1948, in Fitchburg, MA to the late Arthur Peterson and to the late Mildred “Zelda” Peterson and spent most of his life living in Ashburnham, MA.  On May 3, 1980, he married Janet Kacian, and together they shared 3 daughters and 8 grandchildren.

AJ was a kindhearted soul who befriended all he met.  He served in the US Air Force at Okinawa during the Vietnam War and returned to serve at NSA before entering the furniture industry as a respected and adored executive.  AJ spent several years working at George B. Bent where he met his beloved wife, Janet; followed by Nichols & Stone in Gardner, MA where he left his professional legacy.  Throughout his lifetime AJ provided endless support to his local community, but above all, his family always came first.  AJ was an extraordinary husband, father and grandfather and cherished each moment spent with those he loved.  The values AJ instilled in his own family will continue through the generations that follow him.  He valued time spent with those he loved greater than all else.  His absence will be deeply missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Left to cherish his memory, his beloved wife, Janet Peterson; his daughter Carlen Goguen and husband Cory of Kannapolis, NC; AJ and Janet’s daughters, Shelby Daiek and husband Evan of Ogden, UT, and Meredith Nett and husband Shawn of Lexington, NC; grandchildren, Casey, Kira, Ryder, Wiley, Huxton, Sawyer, Dylan and Colby; and his sister, Margaret Bennett of Ashburnham, MA.

A memorial service will be held at the Winchendon Veteran’s Cemetery in Massachusetts on January 31, at 3PM in the afternoon.  Following the service, there will be a celebration of life at the Bresnahan Community Center anytime after 4:30PM.

In lieu of flowers AJ would want donations to be made to the William J. Bresnahan Scouting & Community Center as he dedicated much of his retired life to building this gathering place for the community he loved so much. Donations can be sent to William J. Bresnahan Scouting & Community Center, PO Box 12, Ashburnham, MA 01430.

Wright Funerals-Cremations, High Point, is in charge of the arrangements.