The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Meet Your Neighbor

Meet your neighbor Chris Peterson who has lived in Oquawka since 1981.

Chris was born in Indianapolis, IN and raised in Chicago.

Her parents are John and Stella Zajakala of Peotone.

Her father was a florist and office machine maintenance specialist (back when office machines were mechanical!) He is deceased.

Her mother was a bookkeeper and township assessor and is now retired.

Chris has three sisters, Barbara, Annette and Marya and one brother David, who are all married and who live in the Chicago suburbs.

Chris attended Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights. After graduation she went to Western Illinois University were she majored in music education.

While attending WIU Chris participated in orchestra, marching, concert and jazz bands, concert and show choirs, madrigal dinners as well as playing in the musical pit orchestra.

After graduation Chris served as the band director for Union and West Central Schools for nineteen years.

For three years she worked with the band at Immaculate Conception School in Monmouth. She also previously worked as a bookkeeper for Altair Grain for three years.

Currently Chris is the Treasurer and Water Department Clerk for the Village of Oquawka. She also works for Fishers Food Center in Oquawka and is a volunteer mentor for the Notre Dame band program.

Chris married her husband Mike Peterson in 1991. He currently works for Riley Industrial Paint in West Burlington, IA. They have two children.

Daughter Sophie who graduated from Notre Dame in Burlington, IA in 2013 is a junior at WIU majoring in Music Therapy. She was active in Happy Rock Clovers 4-H until 2014 and worked for FOCC for 2 summers as a VISTA worker.

Son Andrew is currently a senior at Notre Dame in Burlington, IA where he is active in all things musical. He works at Fareway.

Chris is a member of St. John's Church in Burlington, IA.

The Petersons enjoy an annual family camping trip.

Chris believes that you should "Try to find the good in everyone, you don't know what their story is."