Velma (Schroeder) PETERSON

SCHROEDER, PETERSON, NEWCOMB

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/19/2006 at 23:34:01

Velma I. Peterson, 88, of Clarion, died Sunday, March 18, 2001, at USA Healthcare Center, Clarion. She was a lifelong resident of Clarion and Wright County. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 21st at the United Methodist Church, Clarion. Rev. Charles Kellogg officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. Willim Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Velma I. Schroeder was born in 1912, the daughter of Norman and Ruby Schroeder on the family farm in Wall Lake Township. She grew up there with her brothers and sisters. She attended Wall Lake #2 School and later attended Clarion High School, where she worked during the week as a baby sitter for room and board. When she was a junior in high school she met Howard Peterson and they were married in 1932. They lived in Dayton Township on the Peterson farm. One daughter, Patricia, and one son, Frank, were born here. In 1942, the couple purchased a small three room house and moved it to the farm site. Daughters, Carolyn and Phyllis, were born there and one son, Howard Eugene was lost at childbirth. Howard, died in 1969 and Velma continued to live on the farm site until October 1993. She then purchased a condominium in Clarion and lived there until the time of her death. In her lifetime Velma was very active in many community groups and social organizations, including the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, White Shrine, Eastern Star, Federated Club, Neighborhood Club, Democratic Party, 4-H, Bridge Club, and Methodist Sewing Group. She was also a gifted genealogist and spent many hours researching and publishing the Chapman family history. She loved to travel, including a trip to Europe, and multiple U.S. trips. She enjoyed gardening and plants, and loved to cook and entertain for family and friends. Her hobbies included quilting, playing bridge, cross stitch and crafts. She was a very active participant in the lives of her family. She attended hundreds of sporting events, concerts, and plays of her four children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard; daughter, Patricia; son, Howard Eugene; brother, Jack Schroeder; sisters, Doris, Virginia and Mildred; and two infant siblings. She is survived by one sister, Shi Reiland; two brothers, Dean and Don Schroeder; one son, Frank and wife, Carole; two daughters, Carolyn Bowman and husband, Dennis, and Phyllis Newcomb, and 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

© Wright County Monitor 2001