Lorenz Petersen

LORENZ "SKIP" PETERSEN

Anamosa

Lorenz "Skip" Petersen, 91, of Anamosa, died Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at Winslow House, Marion, Iowa.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 9, 2018, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Anamosa, where the family will greet friends from 10 a.m. to service time. Goettsch Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

"Skip," the name everyone knew him by, was born July 7, 1926, at home in rural Newhall, the son of Hans and Lena (Hessenius) Petersen. He went to country school through eighth grade and attended Van Horne High School through 11th grade. His senior year he went to Vinton to live with and help his grandmother. He graduated from Vinton High School in 1943.

At the age of 18 he was drafted into the U.S. Army while he attended AIB College of Business. He served his country until the end of World War II in the Pacific Theater. He then went to Japan, where he was made the Administrative NCO of Sigamo Prison. He returned home in October of 1946. On August 17, 1947, he married Bernice Farmer at the Little Brown Church, Nashua.

Skip's greatest love and pride was his family, and he loved spending time with them. He also had great pride in driving semi-trucks and seeing the beauty and sights of his great U.S.A.

Those cherishing his memory are his beloved wife of 70 years, Bernice; his children, Dave (Sandy), Blairstown, Rick (Carol), Belle Plaine, Barb (Dennis) Garling, Belle Plaine, Diane (Tim) Blue, Marshalltown, Jim (Lori), Brighton, and Amy (Anthony) Henderson, Anamosa; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Leona Danker, Marengo, and Frances (Melvin) Hupfeldt, Van Horne.

He was preceded in death by a son, Jack; his parents; brothers, Harold, Willie and Ralph; and his best friend, Paul Riggs.

Memorials in his name may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Anamosa.