Sydney Rosholt Peterson, age 73, of Niagara, Wisc., died unexpectedly Sunday, February 11, 2007, at Marion General Hospital in Marion, Ohio, with his family by his side. He was born November 19, 1933, in Wausau, Wisc., the son of the late Raymond G. and Stella A. (Syvertson) Peterson of Wittenberg, Wisc. On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1955, he was united in marriage to Nancy Lou Timm, daughter of the late Edward and Hilda (Schroeder) Timm, in Birnamwood, Wisc. Sydney is survived by his wife, Nancy; five children, Lucy (Darrell Ortivez) Lopez, Niagara, Wisc., Jill (Donald) Mongold, Manassas, Va., Timothy Peterson, Crivitz, Wisc., Cheryl (Kris Schaefer) Peterson, St. Paul, Minn., and Candy (Joe and Mary Milquette Family) Peterson, Crooked Lake, Wisc. He also leaves four grandchildren, Lisa Lou Lopez (special friend, Joel Bougie) and Caprice Ortivez, both of Milwaukee, Wisc., Elliott and Regan Mongold, Manassas, Va. In addition he is survived by three sisters, Carol (Willys) Folsom, Wittenberg, Wisc., Priscilla (Merritt) Wilkins, Spring Valley, Fla., Sylvia Griggs, Bogota, Columbia, South America, along with their children and grandchildren. Sydney graduated from Wittenberg High School in 1952, and served two years in the United States Army stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo. As a child, Sydney began his life work in the footsteps of his father in the telephone business, at the Wittenberg Telephone Company and subsequently, the Niagara Telephone Company, where he became President, Manager, and Owner. He has been regularly committed to the Wittenberg Telephone Company where he has been President and Owner since 1972. Having never retired, both companies continued to be Sydney's avid livelihood that he enjoyed up to the present day. Sydney was an active person not only in the telecommunications industry but was a member of many organizations, boards, and committees both local and national. These include: Former President of the Niagara Businessmen's Association, Former President of the Niagara TV Coop, Board of Directors for Maryhill Manor, Niagara Lions Club Member, Florence County Business Association, Marinette County Business and Industry Association, Wisconsin State Telephone Association, United States Telephone Association, Board of Directors for Locally-Owned Telephone Association, American Station Wagon Owners Association, and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church committees. Sydney had many interests and hobbies such as traveling and spending time with his family and friends, but one of his most passionate pastimes was polka music. He played accordion and concertina with numerous bands and musicians throughout his life including the Amidon Follies, the Jammers Accordion and Concertina Club of the Wausau area and was a founding member of the North Eastern Wisconsin Concertina, Accordion, and Buttonbox (NEWCABB) club. Sydney also petitioned and testified in Washington DC for various causes he considered important, such as: telecommunications policies, mental health issues, postal rates, and estate taxes. Visitation will be Thursday, February 15, 2007, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kingsford. Funeral Services will be Thursday, 1:00 p.m. at the church. Rev. Chad Ott will officiate. A visitation will also be held Saturday, February 17, 2007, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wittenberg, Wisc.. Funeral Services will be held Saturday 2:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will be Saturday, February 17, 2007, at Bethany Cemetery in Wittenberg. Memorials can be made to: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 420 W. Breitung Avenue, Kingsford, MI 49802; Maryhill Manor, 501 Madison Avenue, Niagara, WI 54151; Homme Home of Wittenberg, 604 S. Webb Street, Wittenberg, WI 54499; and Redeemer Lutheran Church, W18205 College Avenue, Wittenberg, WI 54499. Honorary Pallbearers include: Carleton Benz, Herb Handt Jr., Joe Milquette, Ray Pilon, Walter Pivinski, Bruce Reuber, Reuben Schmidt, Clarence and James Timm, and Eugene Woznicki. Thursdays Service Pallbearers include: Darrell Ortivez, Don Mongold, Kris Schaefer, Joel Bougie, Jack and Kyle VanOrder. Saturdays Service Pallbearers include: Robert, Dennis, James and John Rew, Robert Timm, and Matthew Preus. Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Sydney's family online at www.jacobsfunerhomes.com. The Jacobs Funeral Home Niagara Chapel is serving the family. Sydney leaves behind a large group of family and friends who mourn his passing but will always remember his enthusiasm for life, his easy-going optimistic nature, his happy days with polka music on the accordion, his unique sense of humor, his devotion to his wife Nancy and all their children and grandchildren, and his all-inclusive friendship and generosity.