Douglas Robert Petersen

Douglas Robert Petersen was called home to our Heavenly Father on December 13th, 2025. Tragically, Doug passed away while helping someone in need, a true reflection of the kind of person he was. Doug was born on November 24th, 1964 to Melvin Claude Jr. and Sandra True Webber Petersen in Salt Lake City, Utah. Doug was the oldest of four children. He grew up most of his youth in Sandy, Utah. The family moved to Idaho in 1980 where he attended and graduated from Meridian High School in 1983. After graduating from high school, Doug served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Asunción, Paraguay for 18 months.

Doug met his Jennifer in November 1985 after returning home to Idaho. This was after Jennifer had already spotted him in a photo prior to his return. They both left to attend BYU in 1986. After a couple of years they returned to Idaho, got engaged, married, and began to establish their home and family. Doug and Jennifer were sealed in the Boise Idaho Temple on January 6th, 1989 for time and all eternity. They raised their 3 children (Parker Douglas, Paige Lindsay, and Chelsea Leigh) in Meridian in a home that they literally built with love.

Doug was someone who always wanted to know how things worked – not only how they worked, but how to fix them. From a young age he would take radios, cameras, computers, and anything else he could find and take them apart to study each piece, and put them back together. If he wasn’t sure how to fix something, he was always willing to take on the challenge and do the research to find the solution to fix it. His curiosity taught him many skills, and he very quickly became the man who knew how to fix everything.

Doug started buying audio and electronic equipment at the young age of 12 years old. He had his very own high end turntable before he even had his driver’s license and his first car, and still has that turntable to this day. He was an audiophile who had a love for vinyl and a wide-range of music genres. From the classics (Toto, Eric Clapton) to the newest, you could find Doug always listening to music on the finest sound system he had built. Doug was the known leader in the family as to the number of concerts attended. Doug also loved to travel with his wife, Jennifer, and his family. They took trips to Italy, Mexico, California, Hawaii, and Florida (he had a love for space and NASA) in which they created many fond memories together. Doug loved good food, whether it was from his wife’s cooking or creating something on his own. He had a skill for tasting or smelling something and being able to recreate the dish at home. His extended family always loved the homemade tamales his family would make during the Christmas season.

While Doug was listening to music, he could also be found cleaning his cars and never let a spec of dust touch them. He loved to collect the tools and supplies to detail his cars to perfection and make them like new. Doug had many cars over the years, from the vintage to the latest and sportiest he could find. His passion for cars was all across the board; learning about the newest cars and the technology in it, watching his favorite auto racing series, and admiring the classic cars that were still on the road today.

With all of his passions and hobbies, Doug loved his family most of all. Jennifer, Parker, Paige, and Chelsea were his world. Doug was his happiest when he was surrounded by them and finding ways to teach, to serve, to inspire, and create lasting memories with each of them both individually and as a family. He had a special bond, with their daughter Paige who he and Jennifer often refer to as their blessing (and princess) in life. Together, both Doug and Jennifer helped her as she blossomed and accepted the challenge that this mortal life has handed her. As he watched and helped his children to grow and become adults of their own, and watched them find their eternal companions (Bri and Skyler), his own love for his family grew and welcomed them as if they were his own. And two of this greatest life lessons that he taught to his wife and all of his children and their spouses is that “you can do hard things” and always “work the problem.”

Doug’s professional life started at Treasure Valley Volkswagen where his passion for all things automotive meshed with work as he sold Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsches. After a few years in June 1992 he transitioned his sales expertise into selling flooring at a local company where he eventually became a vice president. Doug spent 20 years in the flooring business where his attention to detail and fine eye developed.

Doug had a lifelong passion for photography. He bought his first camera when he was 10 years old and spent his whole life developing his skill and eye. He established Doug Petersen Photography in 2012 and the last 13 years he has been able to merge this passion with his vocation. One of Doug’s greatest joys for the last 11 years was that his work allowed him to spend time daily and work side by side together with his son Parker.

Doug is survived by his loving wife and eternal companion, Jennifer, his son, Parker (Bri) Petersen, and his two daughters, Chelsea (Skyler) Steeves and Paige Petersen. Forever loved and remembered by mom, Sandra (Don) James, and his siblings and their families; Curtis (Shauna) Petersen, Brandon (Heather) Petersen, Kristen Blackburn and countless nieces and nephews, cousins and extended family. Doug was preceded in death by his father Melvin C. Petersen Jr.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, December 19th, 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2515 W Ustick Road, Meridian.

The family would like to express their sincerest and most heartfelt gratitude for all who have shared their kindness, prayers, unconditional love, and generosity. It never has nor will ever go unnoticed.

To watch the service please go to the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/97243504407?pwd=paSaNldfiBwLT9la0yGYuhrqLy7ncx.1