Petersen, Gayle “Whitey” (1932 - 2015)

PETERSEN, LARSON, WHITT, BRUCK, PEDERSEN, LAWSON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 12/18/2015 at 12:41:59

Name of deceased: Gayle "Whitey" Bernell Petersen

Aged: 82 yrs, 11 mo, 6 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: Dec. 31, 1932, Harlan, IA

Died: Dec. 6, 2015, Myrtue Medical Center, Harlan, IA

Funeral services: Dec. 11, 2015; First Baptist Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery, Kirkman, IA

Survived by: Children, Rick (spouse, Judi) Petersen of Atlantic, IA, Shelli and (spouse, Jeffrey) Larson of Harlan, IA, Gaige Petersen of Harlan, IA, and Gary (spouse, Jo) Petersen of Harlan, IA; grandchildren, Benjamin and Christopher Petersen, Elizabeth Whitt and Robert Larson, Justin, Jeffrey (spouse, Ashley Bruck), Jordan (spouse, Sydney), Jenna Petersen, and Ana and Ross Petersen; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Eddie and Esther (nee Pedersen) Petersen; wife of 60 years, Sharon; sister, Crystal; son-in-law, Ryan

Education: attended Kirkman School and graduated from Harlan (IA) High School

Religious affiliation: baptized at Bethel Baptist Church of Harlan, IA, where he was a longtime member; he later joined First Baptist Church, Harlan, IA.

Military service: Enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951 and served during the Korean War in the Atlantic Ocean on the USS Cony as a Boilerman; he was honorably discharged in 1955.

Marriage: Sharon Lawson; Sep. 4, 1955; Raymond, NE Methodist Church

Employment: was a long-time Shelby County (IA) supervisor

Hobbies/Interests: 4-H club leader for his boys; was actively involved in the Shelby County Fair, as well as in the community; was a big supporter of his kids' and grandkids' school events and activities; loved being outdoors, fishing, gardening and traveling the world with Sharon and friends

Sources: harlanonline.com; pauleyjones.com