Harry Petersen

Harry Fredrich Petersen was born August 6, 1912, the son of Fritz and Clara Grill Petersen. He died on Wednesday, December 7, 2011, at Eventide in Denison, Iowa, at the age of ninety-nine.
Harry was born on the family farm in Otter Creek township by Schleswig, Iowa. He was baptized in the Catholic faith on May 17, 1941, and confirmed on May 5, 1944. He received his education in Otter Creek #8, a rural school house located half a mile from his home.
He was united in marriage to Nellie Gremonprez on May 21, 1941, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison. They took over the family farm and were blessed with the birth of four children. They farmed the home place until 1972 and then moved to the farm he had purchased earlier in 1949. In July 2000, they moved to an apartment in Denison.
He spent his entire life farming or thinking about farming. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He enjoyed reading, visiting with family and friends, and playing solitaire. He was a good joke teller and loved teasing the grandchildren, especially with a whisker rub. He always made sure there were plenty of fixings in the house to make banana splits for the grandchildren. He served on the Extension Board for over 10 years and also the Otter Creek township school board.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents; two children at birth; two sons, Tom, and Darryl and his wife, Joyce; one brother, Rowland; and two sisters, Ruth and MarY; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. He is survived by his wife Nellie; and one daughter, Judy and her husband, Gayle; one son, Jim and his wife, Madalyn; one daughter-in-law, Kathy; nine grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; three step-great grandchildren; one brother, Melvin and his wife, Marcella; three sisters, Lois; Dorothy; and Henrietta; many other relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers,and gifts evidenced by cards, flowers, memorials, and food donated. We pray that this acknowledgment and blessing will comfort those who have offered so much to our family at the loss of husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.