Petersen, Robert W. 1926-2003

PETERSEN, KAMMEIER, SITZMAN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/24/2008 at 20:23:46

LE MARS, Iowa -- Robert W. Petersen, 77, of Le Mars died unexpectedly Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in rural Merrill, Iowa, with the Revs. Klaus Raab and Andrew Hoffmann officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Olson-Halweg Post 125 of Merrill. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Friday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Robert Wayne Petersen was born Dec. 7, 1926, in Merrill, the son of Albert Jens and Magdalena (Kammeier) Petersen. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in rural Merrill. He attended country school near his home and later attended and graduated from Le Mars Central High School in 1944. After high school, he began farming in Washington Township. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947.

He was united in marriage to Virginia Ann Sitzman on May 5, 1948, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sioux City. The couple farmed in Washington Township for more than 40 years, retiring and moving into Le Mars in June 2002. He was a rural mail carrier for many years, retiring in 1991.

He was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and had served several years on the church council. He also was a longtime member of the Merrill Lions Club.

His children are his greatest legacy. From humble beginnings, the couple received great joy from watching their children become successful in their own lives while maintaining their tradition of strong family values.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Virginia of Le Mars; a daughter and her husband, Kathleen and Larry Prather of Phoenix, Ariz.; four sons and their wives, Kenneth and Susan Petersen of Ottawa, Kan., Kevin and Linda Petersen of Quartz Hill, Calif., Gary and Cheryl Petersen of Storm Lake, Iowa, and Richard and Vikki Petersen of Campbell, Calif.; 12 grandchildren, Melissa, Justin, Emily, Eric, Brian, Matthew, Christopher, Megan, Jennifer, Sterling, Delancey and Avalon; five great-grandchildren; two brothers and their wives, Larry and Luene Petersen of Merrill, and Dick and Soonie Petersen of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and two sisters and their husbands, Donna and Paul Newendorp of Estes Park, Colo., and Susan and Gerald Klemme of Le Mars.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Magdalena Petersen; and a daughter, Peggy Petersen.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal
~Part of the Darrell E. Obituary Collection