Petersen, Carson L. 1912 - 2010

PETERSEN, BENEDIX, PEDERSEN

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/22/2011 at 23:45:48

Pierson, Iowa – Carson L. Petersen, 97, formerly of Pierson, Iowa, passed away Tuesday morning, January 12, 2010, at the Correctionville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Correctionville, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2010, at the Johnson-Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley, Iowa, with Rev. William Cotten officiating. Masonic service rites, provided by the members of the Rutland Lodge #607, will be held at the close of the funeral service. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery, Pierson, Iowa. Military respects will be accorded by the Harrison F. Pedersen American Legion Post #291. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 15, 2010, at the Johnson-Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley, with the family present from 5-7 p.m. The visitation will continue on Saturday, one hour prior to Carson’s service.

Carson Lawrence Petersen, the son of Ottile (Benedix) and Carl H. Petersen, was born on November 12, 1912, rural Pierson, IA. He attended Pierson Consolidated School, graduating in 1930. Carson farmed with his father until he was inducted into the United States Army on February 13, 1942, from Fort Des Moines, IA. He served his country during WWII and was honorably discharged from his military duties on October 22, 1945, from Fort Sheridan, IL. Several years following his discharge from the Army, Carson was awarded the Purple Heart medal in recognition of injuries sustained during conflict.

On October 5, 1942, while on a three day pass from the Army, Carson was united in marriage to Dorothy Maye Pedersen in Dakota City, NE. (He was granted an additional five day extension of leave upon returning to his duties with a copy of his marriage license) While serving his military duties in Aachen, Germany, a son, Mark Carson, was born on October 16, 1944. Father and son were physically introduced to each other the day before Mark’s first birthday.

Carson returned to Pierson and resumed farming, however, during the greatest share of his adult life, he drove trucks for various trucking firms in the area. In June and November of 1967, great sadness struck Carson and Dorothy’s lives. Their son, Kelly was killed in an accident while on duty with the 185th Air National Guard. Five months following his brother’s tragic death, Mark, a Marine serving in Vietnam, was killed in military combat.

Carson was a member of the Pierson United Methodist Church and a 50 year plus member of both, the Harrison F. Pedersen American Legion Post #291 and the Masonic Rutland Lodge #607. Some of Carson’s hobbies included cars, motorcycles, dancing, cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs, and watching auto racing and watching football games on television.

Carson is survived by his daughter, Dixie and Rick Soligo of Kansas City, MO; one grandson, Todd Soligo of Las Vegas, NV; one granddaughter, Jenna and Jason Yates of Austin, TX; one great-grandson, Carson Soligo of Kansas City, MO; two nephews, David and Betty Birney and their children, Kyle and Ryan, and Donald and Lynn Birney and their children, Eric and Nick; one niece, Debra and David Anderson and their children, Matthew Anderson and Sarah and James Stansbury and their daughter, Madison. Carson will also be dearly missed by his “special adopted family, “ Bonnie and Danny Saxen, Barry Saxen and Jodie Saxen and their children, Kristina, Amanda and Mitchell, Keith Saxen and Tammy Heath, and Gregory Saxen.

Preceding Carson in death is his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Petersen; his two sons, Mark and Kelly Petersen; his sister, Dorothy Birney; and his parents, Carl and Ottile Petersen.

Mauer Johnson Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa; 2010