John also brings his legal expertise to the closing side with his thorough examinations and knowledge of the area. John has been a Real Property Law Specialist certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association since 1996.
John T. Peterson has been, with the exception of the first three years of his life, a lifelong resident of Wright County. The Peterson family itself has deep roots in Wright County, with John M. Peterson and Erick Kelstrum (John’s great-grandfather’s on both his father’s and mother’s sides) having homesteaded family farms north of Waverly, in Marysville Township, in the 1870’s. John co-owns the Peterson farm today with his younger brother, Wallace H. Peterson, Jr.
The Peterson family has a steeped history of public service in Wright County, with John’s great-uncle, Oscar J. Peterson serving as Wright County Treasurer from 1926-1936; and John’s great-uncle Earnest J. Anderson serving as Wright County Auditor from 1918 to 1940. John also has two siblings, a sister-in- law and other relatives employed by Wright County at the Wright County Government Center and serving in various capacities.
John joined Johnson, Larson, and Peterson, PA in 1992 and also started Central Land Title with Jan Larson. He graduated from St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota in 1985, and William Mitchell College of Law in 1988, being admitted to the Minnesota State and Federal Bars in that same year. Upon receiving his juris doctorate, he entered active duty as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving on active duty until June 1992. Upon completion of active service, John continued his service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve where he holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During the summer of 2008, John was recalled to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served with 3rd Marine Air Wing in Al Asad, Iraq, where he was deployed until February of 2009. John retired from the Marine Corps on February 1, 2017 after almost 35 years of service.
For hobbies, John enjoys hunting, hiking, raising poultry and farm animals on his farm in Marysville Township north of Waverly, and engaging in numerous other outdoor activities with his wife Tammy, seven children/step-children and eight grandchildren.