Petersen, Mary Eileen

Mary Eileen Petersen, 82, of Iowa City, died peacefully Sunday, May 8, 2011, at Pioneer Care Center in Lone Tree. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 11, at St. Wenceslaus Church, with the Rev. Michael Phillips officiating. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service.

Mary Eileen was born Jan. 9, 1929, in Iowa City, the daughter of Albert and Mary Catherine (Dubisher) Brandt. On Nov. 16, 1948, Mary Eileen married Richard Petersen in Iowa City at St. Wenceslaus Church and they moved to West Branch to raise their family.

Mary Eileen enjoyed music, doing crafts, betting with her son Mark on Monday Night Football, watching old movies and spending time with her family.

Mary Eileen was a homemaker, raising four children, and later employed at Killian's Department Store as the manager of Women's Clothing in Iowa City and at the Jack and Jill food store deli in West Branch. Mary Eileen was a member of St. Wenceslaus Church.

Mary Eileen is survived by her four children, Gregory (Maureen) Petersen of Roseville, Minn., and children Trevor and Tatyana; Janice (Thomas) Murphy of Marion, Ill., and children Catelin and Conor; Steven Petersen of Bussey, Iowa and children Jordan and Matt; and Mark (Kris) Petersen of Tiffin and children Heather, Elizabeth, Rachel and Jayson; seven great-grandchildren; her sister, Renita (Bob) Rummelhart of Hills; sister-in-law, Patricia Brandt of Iowa City; sister-in-law, Carol Brandt of Iowa City; aunt, Thelma Reynolds of Iowa City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary Eileen was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Eugene, Ronald and Tim; and one sister, Joyce Wieder.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Wenceslaus Church, Hospice of Iowa City, and Pioneer Park Nursing Home in Lone Tree.

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