Petersen, George D.

George D. Petersen, 74, of Wallingford, Iowa, formerly of Mount Auburn, died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo following an extended illness. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 9, at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton, with Pastor Jim Blair officiating. Private Committal Services will take place. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

A memorial fund has been established.

George was born May 25, 1938, in Vinton, to Donald Henry and Emily (Patava) Petersen, and graduated from Washington High School in Vinton in 1956. On Nov. 10, 1957, he was united in marriage to Rosemarie Rublack in Garrison. George farmed in Mount Auburn with his favorite John Deere tractors until 1981. While living in Mount Auburn, George enjoyed meeting friends for morning coffee and riding and racing his snowmobile. After moving from Mount Auburn, he and his wife managed a large egg-laying operation near Estherville. When he retired, he and Rosemarie traveled around the country to antique shows, where they sold glassware and pottery.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Rosemarie of Wallingford; his children, Diane Petersen of Mount Auburn, Donald (Shelly) Petersen of Mount Auburn, Ronald (Toni) Petersen of Loveland, Colo., Thomas (Chris) Petersen of Windsor, Colo., and Michael (Melissa) Petersen of Ellsworth, Wis.; 20 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his sister, Carol McGregor of Cedar Rapids; his brother, Richard (Maudie) Petersen of Centralia, Ill.; and his brother-in-law, Edward Walter of Lime Springs.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Faye Walter.

Condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com

Published July 7, 2012 in The Gazette