Geraldine M. Petersen
April 7, 1928 — August 15, 2012
Geraldine Marie Petersen was born on the family farm in Walnut, Iowa on April 7, 1928 to Henry and Alma (Jacobsen) Koenig. She was the oldest of six children. She attended country school and Walnut High School where she was an all-state basketball player for the Walnut Cardinals. She graduated from Walnut in 1946 and after graduation, she worked at Mutual of Omaha.
Geri was united in marriage to Robert Dennis Petersen on November 2, 1946 in Hiawatha, Kansas. They had four children: Donald, Linda, James and Janice. The couple farmed east of Walnut until 1960 when they moved to a farm west of Avoca. Geri farmed right alongside of Bob until he quit farming in 1968. The family moved to their home in Oakland, Iowa in 1975. Bob died suddenly, at his home in Oakland in 1985, at the age of 60. Geri worked at Silvey Trucking Company, as well as Onley Trucking and she had various other jobs before working in the kitchen at the Embers Restaurant in Avoca.
After Geri retired, she continued to live in Avoca. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also loved knitting and making Afghans for everyone around her. She knit coasters, potholders, toaster covers, and Iowa Hawkeye koozies and more. She would also knit small lap blankets out of scrap yarn and donate them to local nursing homes. She would even make Afghans to auction off to help raise money for benefits like Relay for Life. She just loved to knit and share that passion with others.
Geri moved to Oakland Manor Nursing Home in 2009 and this is where she died on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 having attained the age of eighty-four years, four months and eight days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Russell and Agnes in infancy, her husband, sister Nina Bruce, brother Harold Koenig, grandson Scott James Perfect, daughter-in-law Betty Petersen, and brothers-in-law: Jimmy Bruce, Lyle McClain and Lowell "Gus" Hartje.
She is survived by her children: Donald Petersen and his wife Ruth of Goose Creek, South Carolina, Linda Perfect of Montivideo, Minnesota, James Petersen of Madrid, Iowa and Janice Petersen of Atlantic, Iowa; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; six great great-grandchildren; sister Audry Hartje of Oakland, Iowa; other relatives and many friends.
Pastor Terry McClain officiated the 3:30 pm memorial service at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, Iowa on Monday, August 20, 2012. A private inurnment was held at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.
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Geri was united in marriage to Robert Dennis Petersen on November 2, 1946 in Hiawatha, Kansas. They had four children: Donald, Linda, James and Janice. The couple farmed east of Walnut until 1960 when they moved to a farm west of Avoca. Geri farmed right alongside of Bob until he quit farming in 1968. The family moved to their home in Oakland, Iowa in 1975. Bob died suddenly, at his home in Oakland in 1985, at the age of 60. Geri worked at Silvey Trucking Company, as well as Onley Trucking and she had various other jobs before working in the kitchen at the Embers Restaurant in Avoca.
After Geri retired, she continued to live in Avoca. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also loved knitting and making Afghans for everyone around her. She knit coasters, potholders, toaster covers, and Iowa Hawkeye koozies and more. She would also knit small lap blankets out of scrap yarn and donate them to local nursing homes. She would even make Afghans to auction off to help raise money for benefits like Relay for Life. She just loved to knit and share that passion with others.
Geri moved to Oakland Manor Nursing Home in 2009 and this is where she died on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 having attained the age of eighty-four years, four months and eight days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Russell and Agnes in infancy, her husband, sister Nina Bruce, brother Harold Koenig, grandson Scott James Perfect, daughter-in-law Betty Petersen, and brothers-in-law: Jimmy Bruce, Lyle McClain and Lowell "Gus" Hartje.
She is survived by her children: Donald Petersen and his wife Ruth of Goose Creek, South Carolina, Linda Perfect of Montivideo, Minnesota, James Petersen of Madrid, Iowa and Janice Petersen of Atlantic, Iowa; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; six great great-grandchildren; sister Audry Hartje of Oakland, Iowa; other relatives and many friends.
Pastor Terry McClain officiated the 3:30 pm memorial service at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, Iowa on Monday, August 20, 2012. A private inurnment was held at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.
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