PETERSEN, Ernst 1917-2009
PETERSEN, JENSEN, IDSO
Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/6/2010 at 17:41:46
Ernst N. Petersen, 91, of Reinbeck, Iowa, died Friday, January 9, 2009, at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa. Following cremation, Memorial Services will be 10:30 A.M., Wednesday January 14, 2009, at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck, Iowa, with Pastor Joel Love officiating. Burial will follow at the Reinbeck Cemetery in Reinbeck. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 13, 2009, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., at French Hand Funeral Home in Reinbeck, with the family present to greet friends. A memorial fund has been established.
Ernst Norman Petersen was born February 13, 1917, at home on the farm, near Voorhies, Iowa, the son of Walter and Helga Marie (Jensen) Petersen. Ernst received his education at rural country school near Voorhies. As a young man Ernst worked for various farmers in the area. On September 6, 1945, his sister Gladys introduced him to Ethel Mae Idso on a blind date, at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo. Exactly one year later, on September 6, 1946, Ernst was united in marriage to Ethel Mae. After their marriage, they made their home on a farm north of Reinbeck for a few years. They then moved to a farm three miles west of Reinbeck, living there for nineteen years. In December 1971, they moved to the “cutest little house” in Morrison. They lived in Morrison until 2005, when they made their home at Westview Estates in Reinbeck. Ernst farmed for many years, worked at the Canning Factory and then worked for Canon & Petersen Construction, retiring at age 62. Ernst and Ethel Mae shared sixty-two years of married life, and during that time, enjoyed many special memories. They were part of a group of friends called “The Gang” which consisted of eleven couples and one bachelor. Throughout the years they enjoyed monthly potlucks, card games, and attended many dances together. Ernst and Ethel Mae also loved traveling. They took many bus trips and were able to visit every state in the union except Hawaii. Ernst and Ethel Mae also traveled to Florida for eleven years, to spend Christmas with their daughter Velma and her family. Spending time with family was very important to Ernst as well as keeping their Danish heritage alive. Every year at the annual Petersen Christmas, the entire family would sing Danish Christmas carols and dance around the Christmas tree. Later in life, Ernst greatly enjoyed mowing his large yard with his lawn tractor because it reminded him of doing field work on the farm, his favorite farming activity. He was also a lifelong member of the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck.
He is survived by his wife Ethel Mae Petersen of Reinbeck, Iowa; one son, Marlin Petersen and his wife Barb of Marion, Iowa; one daughter, Velma Herrig and her husband Bill of Land O’ Lakes, Florida; six grandchildren, Jennifer Johnson and her husband Eric; Ian Petersen and his wife Merry; Carolyn Diecidue and her husband Daron; Shannon Jannetty and her husband Joe; Courtney Herrig Holmes and her husband Joshua; Nathan Herrig; five great-grandchildren, Isabel Johnson; twins-Cora Petersen & Evaline Petersen; Harrison Diecidue and Nico Jannetty; two sisters-in-law, Delores Petersen of Grundy Center, Iowa; Pat Petersen of Reinbeck, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Helga Petersen; one grandson, Christian Petersen; one sister, Gladys Heidemann; and three brothers, Erhart, Lee, and Marvin Petersen.
Grundy Obituaries maintained by Tammy D. Mount.
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