James 'Jim' L. Peterson, Jr.,

James 'Jim' L. Peterson, Jr., 59, of 2120 Grant St., PO Box 44 Utica, passed away Thursday, January 17th, 2013 at home, after a courageous three year battle with brain cancer.
Jim was born in Meadville, on April 5, 1953, a son of the late James Leonard and Helen (Pruskowski) Peterson, Sr.
On October 14, 1983 Jim married Darla Perry Nicolls; she survives.
Jim was raised on his parents dairy farm on the Franklin Pike, Meadville. He was a 1971 graduate of Cochranton High School where he played basketball and baseball. He attended Edinboro University majoring in Mathematics and Business Administration and also played college baseball. Jim worked at Meadville Coca-Cola Bottling Co. for sixteen years starting as a summer help driver but continued his employment there advancing to Salesman, Area Manager and Sales Manager. When Meadville Coca-Cola was sold to Keystone Coca-Cola he became the Branch Manager of the Meadville facility. In 1986 he started a small snack food vending company, Quaker Vending, out of his garage on Thurston Road, Meadville. In 1987, using his soft drink distribution experience, he expanded his business to sub-distribute RC Cola and Cotton Club products for the Cotton Club Bottling Company in Cleveland, OH, becoming Quaker Distributing. Hearing of a 'new age' drink, Snapple, being sold in New York, he contacted the owners to obtain distribution rights for a five county area of northwestern PA. Over the next 16 years his company grew to employ 25 people and introduced and distributed such drinks as SoBe, Fuze, Vitamin Water, Tradewinds, Hanks and Stewarts into ten counties of northwest PA. His company sponsored many Little League baseball teams, soccer teams as well as many festivals and events in the area. In 2006 he partnered with 7-Up Bottling, Pittsburgh, to distribute 7-Up; unfortunately that deal resulted in putting Quaker Distributing out of business and the doors closed in August, 2006. Jim became employed as the General manager of Provanta, a division of Goss Gas in Reno, leaving in 2009. Upon leaving Provanta, Jim started NuDay Distributing and began distributing Boylans, Tradewinds and Arizona drinks while being an independent courier for Day Delivery Service. He also was employed part time in 2011 at Tractor Supply, Seneca and Fort Venango Vending, Franklin.
Jim enjoyed being with family and friends, raising Black Angus beef cattle and visiting the Outer Banks, NC. He was a life long Cleveland Indians and Browns fan. He was always a hard-working, good man who was dearly loved by his family.In addition to his wife, Darla, of 29 years, Jim is survived by four children Casey J. Peterson and his companion Brenda Ditrich of Erie, Jay L. Peterson and his wife Mina of Columbia, MD, Nathan W. Nicolls of Meadville, Katie Jo Stearns and her companion Rick Motzing of Conneaut Lake, three grandchildren Elise and Ethan Peterson, Riley Jo Stearns and a fourth grandchild to arrive this summer. Also surviving are two sisters Beverly Albert and her husband Larry, Toni Wagner and her husband David, two brothers Glen Peterson, Thomas Peterson and his wife Patricia all of Meadville, his aunt Winsome Hunter, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents Leonard and Helen Peterson, Sr., Jim was preceded in death by his parents-in-law Joseph L. and Gene Perry.
Family and friends are invited to call on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 at Stephen P. Mizner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 404 Chestnut St., Meadville, where a scripture service will be conducted at 3:45 PM.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Brigid Roman Catholic Church, 383 Arch St., Meadville, at 11:00 AM on Monday, January 21st, with Fr. Johnathan Schmolt, Pastor, officiating.
Interment will take place in Cochranton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Crawford County 464 Pine St., Meadville, PA 16335 or The Regional Cancer Center, 2500 W. 12th St., Erie, PA 16505 or Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
Jims family would like to thank the National Institute of Health, The Regional Cancer Center, Hospice of Crawford County, the doctors, nurses, family and friends for their care, love and support throughout Jims illness.
Share your condolences at www.miznerfuneralhome.com