PETERSEN, Charles 1874-1979

PETERSEN, SCHMIDT, BAKKER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 7/10/2014 at 06:52:39

Charles Petersen, 105, Oldest Resident, Is Dead

Grundy county's oldest resident, 105-year-old Charles H. Petersen, died at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 2 at the Long Term Care Unit of the Grundy County Memorial Hospital.

The city's other centenarian, John Reynolds, also 105, died March 21 at the hospital.

Funeral services were held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Colfax Center Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jerry Van Curler officiating. Rev. Arnie Petersen, grandson of Mr. Petersen, sang "How Great Thou Art" and "Rock of Ages". He was accompanied by his wife. Mrs. Raymond Hinders played selected organ prelude and postlude numbers.

Casket bearers were Gale Maddux, Dean Maddux, Roger Stachour, Don Niehaus, Rev. Arnie Petersen and Charles Jeff Petersen. Ushers were Harm G. Hook and Harry Ascher. Mrs. Joe Junker and Mrs. Frederick Terfehn were floral attendants.

Following the committal service in the Colfax Center church cemetery, relatives and friends returned to the church for fellowship and lunch.

He was born April 1, 1874 in Hardin County, Iowa, the son of Ubbe and Henrietta Schmidt Petersen. He moved with his family to a farm in Lincoln township, Grundy county, when he was one year old.

On April 29, 1900 he was united in marriage to Juna Bakker at the Colfax Center Presbyterian Church. Following their marriage the Petersen's farmed in Lincoln township until 1928 when they retired and moved to Grundy Center. Mr. Petersen'd wife died January 18, 1957. He continued to live alone until March 31, 1976 when he became a resident of the L.T.C. Unit of the Grundy hospital. He was the oldest living member of the Colfax Church, having joined 79 years ago.

Mr. Petersen was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two infant children, four sisters, four brothers, one granddaughter and one great-grandson.

He is survived by one son, Manna Petersen of rural Holland, two daughters, Mrs. C. W. (Henrietta) Niehaus, Grundy Center, and Mrs. Ray (Grace) Maddux of rural Grundy Center, one brother, Henry Petersen, Grundy Center, seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A memorial fund has been established. Arrangements were in charge of the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 10 May 1979, pg 3