Dr. Marilyn Peterson is remembered as a professor, a supporter, a mentor, and a friend.

Peterson passed away at the age of 88 on December 12th after a brief illness. She spent 30 years at Midland University, serving as Associate Professor of Journalism and English and Department Chair until her retirement in 1994. 

Affectionately known by her students as “Mrs. P.” Peterson had a lasting impact on the students she taught, colleagues she worked with, and relationships she forged during and after her teaching career.

Dr. Joyce Gissler Winfield, ‘74, had the unique opportunity to both be a student and a colleague of Peterson’s. Peterson provided such an influence for Winfield that she switched her major to journalism early in her college career. “I came here as a business major, but I always had an interest in writing,” Winfield said. “I took a Writing for the Media class. Marilyn thought I had talent and encouraged me to write for the student newspaper, eventually becoming editor. Her teaching style was wonderful, and she was the first real mentor I had.”

Over the next 50 years, Peterson became one of Winfield’s biggest supporters in whatever path her career led her down. Winfield spent one year teaching with Peterson at Midland and would eventually return to her alma mater to serve as the Journalism department head from 1997-2007. 

“It was an honor to be on the other side of the desk as one of Marilyn’s colleagues,” Winfield said. “Whatever I was doing, Marilyn was my biggest cheerleader. She would send me notes over the years and was always encouraging me.”

During her 30-year career, Peterson was honored with numerous awards for her work in journalism, including the Friend of Journalism Award, the Midland Journalism Award of Distinction, and The Midland All American Award. She was named to the Zimmerman Distinguished Professorship Chair, received the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, was honored by the Midland Trustees in 1985 with a Resolution of Commendation, served as the Midland AKSARBEN BALL Higher Education Representative, and was honored by Drs. Ruth and Rupert Dunklau with the establishment of the Marilyn Ann Peterson Journalism Program Endowment. She was granted professor emeritus status from Midland upon her retirement in 1994.

After Peterson retired in 1994, she returned to Cozad, Nebraska, where she continued to make a difference in the lives of the people around her. She became active in the community on the Cozad Community Hospital Board of Directors, the Cozad Hospital Foundation, and the Central Plains Home Health and Hospice Advisory Council. She chaired three National Smithsonian exhibits in Cozad, served as President of P.E.O. Chapter CO, and received the Cozad Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award. In September, Peterson was named the recipient of the Cozad Library Foundation’s Make Your Mark on Cozad award.

Winfield said it was a true statement to Peterson’s character that she maintained relationships with students well after graduation. “She would send out countless notes every day and kept in touch with so many of her former students,” she said. “If you crossed her path, you became someone she always wanted to acknowledge. She was a great inspiration and role model for me, and she ended up being a great friend. She was one of a kind, and I will miss her greatly.”

Memorials are suggested to Wilson Public Library in Cozad or Midland University. Services will be held Thursday, December 16, at 11 a.m. at the Cozad United Methodist Church with Pastor Doug Gahn officiating. Burial will be at 9 a.m. prior to the service at Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege. Visitation with family present will be Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad.

Read more in Dr. Marilyn Peterson’s full obituary.