Andrew Allen Peterson

Andrew Allen Peterson passed away peacefully on Friday, May 10, 2024.

Andy was born on October 2, 1955 to Allen Bernard Peterson and Ann Loretta (Harris) Peterson. He had three sisters, Kathleen Bonny Turnbull (married to William Turnbull), Pamela Ann Smith (married to Mike Smith), and Debra Eileen Miller (married to Edward Miller). Andy attended St. James Catholic School (K-6), Hill Jr. High School, which is where he started playing the cello, and George Washington High School in Denver until 12^th grade. His parents moved him to Arvada High School his senior year, where he graduated in 1973. Andy played cello in both high schools.

In the summers, Andy lived in Grand Lake, CO with his parents in a cabin that his dad built. He loved to water ski, snow ski, hike, bike, fish, golf, and play tennis and basketball. He worked at the Conoco gas station, Grand Lake pumping plant and took tourists on horseback rides through Rocky Mountain National Park.

Andy attended Colorado State University from 1973-1977, where he received his B.A. in Music Education and could teach K-12 Music Education, Choir, Orchestra and Band. While at CSU, he joined the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. After graduating, Andy substituted in Jefferson County Public Schools until he moved to Ft. Morgan, CO to teach Music in 1978. Andy taught 4-12^th grade Orchestra for 7 years. He would drive home to Arvada every weekend to see his parents and his dog, Murphy, and go snow skiing in the Winters.

Andy moved back to Arvada in 1985. He was a substitute teacher in Jeffco Public Schools and Adams School District 50 until he started his job in 1986 teaching Orchestra in Westminster. He met his wife Candyce Leigh Cizek, teaching at the same elementary school, Mesa. Candy had to share her music room with the new Orchestra teacher, Andy. They married June 4, 1988. They lived in a condo in the San Marino subdivision in Arvada. Their daughter Courtney Leigh was born on August 9, 1990. In 1992, they bought a HUD home in Countryside when Candy was pregnant with their second child. During that time, he completed his Masters in Middle School Education from UNC in 1992.  Kelsey Arline was born on March 11, 1993. In 1996, they moved to a bigger house in Walnut Creek on 106th in Arvada. They lived there 10 years. Andy's mom passed of Alzheimer's. With this inheritance, they bought their dream home in Five Parks and have lived there for the past 19 years. The family spent all their time together through the years attending many programs, concerts, sporting events and vacationing. Their favorite places to go were Grand Lake, Winter Park and Disneyland.

Andy and Candy retired from teaching in 2012 and started traveling. They traveled to Ireland twice, Scotland, England, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Iceland, and Mexico. They traveled thru many states in the U.S. including Hawaii. In his retirement years, Andy loved to play golf, bike, hike, go to movies, stay in Winter Park and Grand Lake and spend time with his family.

Andy is survived by: his wife, Candyce Leigh Peterson; his daughter, Courtney Leigh Peterson, and her husband Benjamin Alexander White-Patarino, and their son (Andy’s first grandson), Arlan Andrew Waverleigh White-Patarino; his daughter Kelsey Arline Peterson, and her husband, Gabriel Guzdar Dubois; his father-in-law, Norman Cizek; and his sisters, Kathleen, Pamela, and Debra, and their families. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Craig Edstan Cizek, and his wife, Debbie Cizek, and their families. Andy was preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Ann Peterson; his brother-in-law, William Turnbull; his nephew, Michael Turnbull; his niece Mackenzie Allison and his Mother-in-Law, Marjory Cizek.

Andy would like to be remembered for loving Candy and his girls, playing Cello, and his joy of teaching Orchestra to Thousands of students.

Andy’s Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, May 23^rd from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. at the Village of Five Parks Depot (13810 W 85th drive, Arvada, CO 80005). It’s an open house and we will be toasting Andy at 4:00 p.m.