Petersen, Sharon (1936 - 2014)

PETERSEN, FOCHT, LAWSON, LARSON, HOLKA, PETERSON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 3/8/2014 at 17:07:30

Name of deceased: Sharon Joanne Petersen (nee Lawson)

Aged: 77 yrs, 10 mo, 25 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: March 31, 1936, Raymond, NE

Died: Feb. 25, 2014, Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, IA

Funeral services: Saturday, March 1, 2014, First Baptist Church in Harlan, IA: Pastor Dan Hawn officiated. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery in Kirkman, IA.

Survived by: husband of 58 years, Gayle “Whitey” Petersen of Harlan, IA; children, Rick (spouse, Judi) Petersen of Atlantic, IA, Shelli (spouse, Jeffrey) Larson of Harlan, IA, Gaige Petersen of Harlan, IA, and Gary (spouse, Jo Lene) Petersen of Harlan, IA; grandchildren, Benjamin and Christopher Petersen, Elizabeth and Robert Larson, Justin, Jeffrey, Jordan and Jenna Petersen, and Ana and Ross Petersen; brother, Roger Lawson of Lincoln, NE; sisters, Donna Holka of Lincoln, NE, and Marilyn Peterson of Lincoln, NE; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Willard and Grace (nee Focht) Lawson; sister, Ruth

Education: graduated from Raymond (NE) High School, Class of 1953; attended the University of Nebraska

Religious affiliation: baptized at Bethel Baptist Church of Harlan, IA, where she was a longtime active member. In 2011, she joined First Baptist Church of Harlan, IA.

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Gayle Petersen; Sep. 4, 1955; Raymond (NE) Methodist Church

Employment: taught 2 years in a rural school after completing her education at University of Nebraska; After her children were grown, Sharon worked as Activity Director at the Baptist Memorial Home in Harlan. Later, Sharon was coordinator for the Commanders Club of the Shelby County State Bank for 25 years, where she traveled the world and made many friends.

Hobbies/Interests: travel, photography, interior decorating, entertaining, flower arranging, singing, baking, sewing, quilting, and Nebraska Cornhusker football.

Sharon recently authored and published her first book “My 25 Years as a Bank CEO! (Chief Entertainment Organizer),” and was working on her second book titled “I Will Dominate.”

Volunteerism was important to Sharon, as noted below:
• served on the Shelby County Fair Board
• Active participant in 4-H
• Member, Harlan Band Parents
• Member, Nishna Valley Business Women
• Member, Hospital Auxiliary
• Member, Relay for Life
• Member, PEO
• Member, LNO club
• Performed with the Western Iowa Arts Assn.
• 1995: received Shelby County Chamber of Commerce “Special Appreciation” award
• 1998: named to the Hall of Fame of the Shelby County Fair
• 2004: selected Shelby County Mother of the Year and Iowa Merit Mother
• 2009: named to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame
• 2010: selected “Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year”

Sources: harlanonline.com, kjan.com, pauleyjones.com