Hans David Petersen, 1912-2013

PETERSEN, SIMONSEN, BARROSO

Posted By: Mary Ellen Sicard (email)
Date: 9/25/2013 at 10:08:50

Hans David Petersen, 100, of Ames and formerly of Estherville, died on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 at Rolling Green Village in Nevada, Iowa. He was born on Nov. 29, 1912 in rural Emmett County; the son of Peter and Else (Simonsen) Petersen and the oldest of four children. Hans farmed the family farm in Emmett County beginning in his late teens and left the farm when he moved to Des Moines to begin working for the Iowa Airplane Co as a mechanic. With the onset of WWII, Hans worked at the Gilbert Airport where he met Ardyce Weigel in May, 1943. Following a four month courtship, they married on Sept. 21, 1943 at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Ames. Ardyce died on May 11, 2012.

Hans and Ardyce moved to Swea City following the war to continue farming, where they remained until their retirement in 1974. They relocated one last time to Ames in 2003. During his years farming, Hans sold and installed Reclamo Oil Filters. Hans was a lifetime Indian Motorcycle rider and rebuilt a 1941 Scout with his oldest son, Dan, in the mid 1970s. Hans and Ardyce loved to travel on the motorcycle. He also repaired and restored Edison Phonographs and enjoyed listening to them.

Hans was preceded in death by his wife, Ardyce; sons, Daniel and Mark; two infant great-grandsons and his siblings. He is survived by his children Treva Petersen, Dale (Suzanne) Petersen, Rosalie Petersen and Nina Barroso all of Ames, and Paul (Sharon) Petersen of Estherville; daughter-in-law, Nancy Petersen of Estherville; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, March 2, 2013)