Peters, Harold Dean (1926 - 2024)

PETERS, UTTER, SCHRODER, PETERS, KNUDSEN, SINISON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 2/11/2024 at 14:13:22

Name of deceased: Harold Dean Peters

Aged: 97 yrs, 1 mo, 12 days

Residence: Tennant, Shelby County, IA

Born: Dec. 8, 1926; rural Corley, Shelby County, IA

Died: Jan. 20, 2024; Rose Vista Nursing Home, Woodbine, Harrison County, IA

Funeral services: Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Shelby Cemetery, Shelby, IA

Survived by: Children, Bonnie Utter of Bondurant, IA, David (spouse, Bonnie) Peters of Shelby, IA, Connie (spouse, Dale) Schroder of Avoca, IA, and Ernest (spouse, Lori) Peters of Portsmouth, IA; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law, Lyle Knudsen of Harlan, IA and Merlyn (spouse, Jeanette) Knudsen of Elk Horn, IA; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Ernest and Mildred (nee Sinison) Peters; sister, Pearl (nee Peters) Knudsen; infant daughter; wife, Verlee Anna Marie (nee Knudsen); brother, Richard and his wife, Pola; brother, Eugene and his wife, Naomi; nephews, Steve and Dan; nieces, Judy and Rita

Education: Began his education at Tennant Consolidated School, Tennant, IA, and graduated from Tennant (IA) High School, Class of 1944

Religious affiliation: Baptized and confirmed at the Shelby Lutheran Church, Shelby, IA; member, Immanual Lutheran Church, Harlan, IA

Military service: Drafted into the U. S. Army on Dec. 15, 1950, and trained at Camp McCoy, WI; he was then transferred to Ansbach, Germany, and served as a supply and ammunition truck driver during the Korean War as the Cold War with Russia was also heating up. Honorably discharged on Nov. 26, 1952.

Marriage: Verlee Anna Marie Knudsen; Feb. 15, 1954; Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, IA

Employment: After his high school graduation, he worked for a neighbor, Slim Morris, as a hired hand until he was drafted into the U. S. Army. When he was discharged, he wanted to farm, but there were no farms available to rent at the time; his dad wrote him a letter about a job opening for driving a school bus for the Tennant (IA) School. After returning home, he began driving the bus route and worked for Wes Moore in Tennant (IA), building wagons. After his marriage in 1954, he and Verlee rented 80 acres northwest of Tennant, IA where they made their home and began their farm life milking cows, feeding cattle, raising hogs and chickens, growing row crops, and driving the bus. In 1970, he purchased the 160-acre “Peters Homestead” farm from his mother. In total, he drove a school bus more than 60 years, plus 1 year as a substitute.

Hobbies/Interests: Member, Shelby (IA) American Legion Post No. 240; he served on the Tennant (IA) Town Council, the board of directors of Shelby County (IA) Farm Bureau, and the board of directors of Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company for over 35 years. With Verlee, they loved to go dancing, either to the Corley or Avoca dance halls on Saturday nights, and getting together with the neighbors playing cards; he loved farming, fishing, family campouts, dancing, and traveling

Sources: kjan.com; heartlandfunerals.com