Petersen, Jill

Jill Petersen, 67, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, July 12, 2012, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 17, at Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, by Chaplain Christine Wagner-Hecht. Family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 16, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include a daughter, Michelle (Craig) Medberry of Marion; sisters, Kathy (Steve) Walters of Humboldt and Lu Horak of Vinton; grandchildren, Chandler, Cale and Camden Medberry; nieces and nephews, Zachary Walters, Tyler (Heather) Walters, Matt Horak and Lisa Horak; and great-nephews, Ethan Horak and Jayden Walters.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother-in-law, Allan Horak; and nephew, Michael Horak.

Jill was born May 12, 1945, in Vinton, daughter of Ronald “Dick” and Charlotte (Noeller) Byam. She worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell and also as a teller at Farmer Savings Bank in Vinton. Most recently she worked as an administrative assistant at Rockwell Collins for many years.

Jill enjoyed her family, especially spending time with her grandsons and going on sister trips. She volunteered at Tanager Place and mentored many school children through the Rockwell Collins program. Jill was an avid reader and befriended everyone she met, becoming a mom or mentor to many.

Special thanks to friends and family and especially Paul and Becky Tranter.

A memorial fund has been established.

Please sign the online guest book for Jill at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published July 13, 2012 in The Gazette