Clare M. Petersen
February 22, 1913 — August 22, 2012
Clare Margaret Petersen was born on February 22, 1913 to Peter and Anna (Ohlinger) Leinen in Portsmouth, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth.
She attended school through the eleventh grade and then graduated a year later. She worked as a waitress in a local diner in Harlan.
On October 14, 1939, she was united in marriage to Ernest "Ernie" Petersen in the rectory of St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan. Three sons were born to them: Craig, Kevin, and Brent.
Clare ran the switchboard taking fire and police calls in Harlan, worked in the Dress Department at Graham�s Department Store and retired from Variety Distributors.
She enjoyed going fishing and attending her sons sporting activities when they were in school.
After Ernie�s death in 2001, she remained in her Harlan home until becoming a resident of the Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center in Avoca, Iowa. This is where she died on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, having attained the age of ninety-nine years and six months. She was preceded in death by her parents and twenty brothers and sisters: Constant Leinen, Sister Mary Revokata, Lena Schumacher, Peter Leinen, Nicholas Leinen, M. D. Leinen, Katie Leinen, Rose Raymond, Herman Leinen, twins Joe Leinen and Ann Rattenborg, Laura Reid, Martha Leinen, Zeno Leinen, Andrew Leinen, Francis "Red" Leinen, Eva Gubbels, Melania Leinen, Margaret Mester, and Modesta Green.
Clare is survived by her sons Craig Petersen of Madison, Nebraska, Kevin Petersen and his wife Rita of Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Brent Petersen and his wife Barbara of Blair, Nebraska, nine grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; other family members and friends.
Rev. John Frost celebrated the 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Katie Kiss, Lindsey Wong, and Emily Patefield. Serving as casket bearers were Drew Petersen, Andrew Wong, Kelly Petersen, Travis Petersen, Chris Petersen, and Kyle Petersen. Interment was held in the Jacksonville Cemetery.
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She attended school through the eleventh grade and then graduated a year later. She worked as a waitress in a local diner in Harlan.
On October 14, 1939, she was united in marriage to Ernest "Ernie" Petersen in the rectory of St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan. Three sons were born to them: Craig, Kevin, and Brent.
Clare ran the switchboard taking fire and police calls in Harlan, worked in the Dress Department at Graham�s Department Store and retired from Variety Distributors.
She enjoyed going fishing and attending her sons sporting activities when they were in school.
After Ernie�s death in 2001, she remained in her Harlan home until becoming a resident of the Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center in Avoca, Iowa. This is where she died on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, having attained the age of ninety-nine years and six months. She was preceded in death by her parents and twenty brothers and sisters: Constant Leinen, Sister Mary Revokata, Lena Schumacher, Peter Leinen, Nicholas Leinen, M. D. Leinen, Katie Leinen, Rose Raymond, Herman Leinen, twins Joe Leinen and Ann Rattenborg, Laura Reid, Martha Leinen, Zeno Leinen, Andrew Leinen, Francis "Red" Leinen, Eva Gubbels, Melania Leinen, Margaret Mester, and Modesta Green.
Clare is survived by her sons Craig Petersen of Madison, Nebraska, Kevin Petersen and his wife Rita of Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Brent Petersen and his wife Barbara of Blair, Nebraska, nine grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; other family members and friends.
Rev. John Frost celebrated the 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Katie Kiss, Lindsey Wong, and Emily Patefield. Serving as casket bearers were Drew Petersen, Andrew Wong, Kelly Petersen, Travis Petersen, Chris Petersen, and Kyle Petersen. Interment was held in the Jacksonville Cemetery.
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