Wayne Wm. Peterson

Artist, Writer, TV-Personality, Teacher, Motorcycle Test Rider, Designer/Builder, Local Activist, Steward of Clover Glen Farm, Lung Transplant Recipient, Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Friend Wayne Wm. Peterson was all these things, and much more. In a life that spanned 70 years he was able to cram two lifetimes of living, into one. Steadfast in his belief that, "you can achieve anything, with the right amount of tool's, time, and talent." By this he was able to live a Horatio Algiers style of existence. As a Designer & Illustrator, he created over 625 designs for Harley-Davidson alone. Most noteworthy is the art for their timeless "Live to Ride, Ride to Live" line of parts and accessories. Additionally, he did logo's for Harley University, Harley Police Sales and many other HD images and materials. He also was the HD licensed creator of Wayne's Country Roads, a line of limited edition porcelain scenes of the American road which, he both sculpted, and sold to HD dealers. He also did design, and illustration work for The Ford Motor Company, illustrating their 100th Anniversary poster, General Motors, one of 26 artist selected nationwide to illustrate their (then new) SSR pick-up introduction, and Excalibur Motor Company, designing the exterior of their last model, the series 390. Other accounts that benefited from his talents included Marshall Amplifiers, Johnson Wax, Universal Studios (for whom he designed and created Back To The Future collectibles), Zymol Wax, Fireworks Popcorn, General Electric, Elkhart Lake Raceway, Ideals Publishing, Jewel Foods, NN Corporation, Maders German Restaurant, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Irish Fest, and many, many more. He is also credited with being the "grandfather" of Milwaukee Magazine, taking it from a half-page black & white program guide, for WFMR, a classical radio station, to a full size color publication. His other creative accomplishments included: The PBS television series, "Wayne's Country Roads, The Rediscovery of Backroads America", which he created and acted in from the seat of a Harley-Davidson "Springer". It premiered in 2005 on PBS 10/36, scoring #2 nationwide, and was nominated for two Emmys. He was also an instructor at Waukesha Area Technical College, teaching Advertising Design and Humorous Illustration. From here he was recruited by Iron Horse Motorcycle Magazine to become their Editor In Chief, where, one of his many duties was as a test rider of new motorcycle models, and the publishing of those evaluations in the magazine. From Iron Horse he moved to Road Runner Motorcycle Touring And Travel Magazine, to become one of their Associate Editors. In this capacity he continued his test rides, and added the component of doing long distance tour rides throughout the United States and Canada, and publishing those experiences. He even introduced Trike's, or three wheeled motorcycles, to the magazine, riding them around Lake Superior as well as other destinations. His lifetime experience with motorcycling, and the companies that produce them, their accessories, and motorcycle publishing, earned him a nomination to The Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2020. In his "spare-time" he helped organize and lead Preserve Muskego, a grass roots citizen group that successfully stopped the development of sensitive land's into an industrial park. He was also, briefly a candidate for the state assembly, until the untimely death of his father, made it impossible for him to commit the time necessary to continue the campaign. In everything he did throughout his life he not only successfully competed, he excelled, earning numerous awards and honors, never, ever, willing to just "settle." No surprise when you realize that he was able to trace his genealogy all the way back to Roman Senator Sueva Justine De Orsini (1367-1422), and Elizabeth Q.C. Wydeville, wife of King Henry VII of England (1485-1509), and the mother of the two young princes who died in the Tower of London. His line also extended to the Clan Campbell of Scotland, as well as John Luxemburg, King of Luxemburg (1355-1397), and to Lieutenant John Whitlock who died during the American Revolutionary War. He is survived by his wife Joanne of 47 years, his four children, Christine, Amy, Andy and Ethan, as well as six grandchildren. If he could have any last words they would simply be "If you can believe it, you can achieve it." He will be missed but not forgotten. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Leonard Catholic Church, W173 S7743 Westwood Drive, in Muskego, on Monday, June 14 at 11 AM.