Irene Elaine Peterson, age 77, of Riceville, passed away from cancer at the Riceville Community Rest Home on Sunday, August 25, 2002. Irene entered the rest home on August 19.

Funeral services were held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Riceville on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 with Rev. Michael Parris officiating. Burial was in the St. Peter’s Cemetery in rural Riceville.

Irene was born the daughter of Swen and Hilma (Strand) Lovik on September 19, 1924 in rural Ventura, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Riceville, Iowa. Irene attended Ventura schools, graduating in 1943 from Ventura High School.

On June 2, 1951 Irene was united in marriage to Robert Oettchen and after their marriage resided on the family farm south of Clear Lake, Iowa. Her three children: Russell, Verlyn and Elaine, were all bom while living there.

In 1971 the family moved to a farm at Riceville, Iowa. Her husband Robert passed away in 1972. Irene remarried on February 14, 1973 to Carl Peterson and they remained on the farm. Carl passed away in 1992.

Irene worked in various nursing homes and loved to sew and work-in the garden. She was a devoted mother and grandmother.

Survivors include two sons, Russell Oettchen of Riceville and Verlyn Oettchen of Chester, Iowa; two grandsons, Brandon and Avery Oettchen. Also surviving are three brothers, Orvill and wife of Gulfport, Miss., Lloyd and wife of Bullhead, Ariz., and Virgil and wife of Fertile, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands and one daughter, Elaine Oettchen in the year 2000; a sister, Edythe Otis; five brothers, Roy, Harry, Norman, Roy and Duane Lovick; five sisters-in-law; and one brother-in-law.

Source: Riceville Recorder; Aug. 29, 2002 Page 7
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters