James D. Petersen 1931-2001

PETERSEN, REFSELL, THOMSON, BRECUNIER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 2/3/2013 at 23:55:08

James Petersen
Spirit Lake – James D. Petersen, 69, of Spirit Lake, died on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 1:30 p.m. at Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.

Visitation is Monday from 5-7 p.m. at the Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, September 17, 2001)

James D. Petersen, 69
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 18 at the Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake for James D. Petersen, who passed away Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 near Lake Park as a result of an accident.

Rev. James Stiles officiated. Interment was in the Superior Township Cemetery in Superior [Per cemetery records, buried with 1st wife, Carol at East Side].

Petersen was born on Nov. 1, 1931 in Harris, the son of Max and Susan Petersen. He was raised near Sibley where he attended school.

He entered the U.S. Army in 1949, serving first in Germany. As the Korean conflict broke out, Petersen was transferred there, serving as a tank commander.

Upon receiving an honorable discharge in 1955, Petersen began farming. He then worked as a Government Meat Inspector for many years. During his time as an inspector, he lived in Waterloo, Holstein, Storm Lake and Estherville, Iowa. While in Estherville, he was united in marriage to Ruth Thomson in Estherville.

The couple moved to Spirit Lake in 1979, where he most recently worked as a truck driver for Cohrs Construction.

Petersen was a lifetime member of the VFW in Estherville. He enjoyed spending time in the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting. He also enjoyed woodworking.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth; children, Maxine Brecunier, Janet Petersen, Bruce Petersen, Tony Petersen and Doug Petersen; twelve grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother, Reed Petersen; other family and many friends.

Petersen was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Susan Petersen; his first wife, Carol Refsell; brother Dwaine and an infant son, Dwaine.

Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake was in charge of arrangements. (Dickinson County News, Spirit Lake, IA, September 22, 2001)