Petersen, Stanley 'Stan' C.

Stanley “Stan” C. Petersen, 69, of Cedar Rapids, passed into the loving arms of God after a yearlong battle with brain cancer on Sunday, March 10, 2013. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 12, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church from 4 to 8 p.m., with public Masonic rites at 7 p.m. Funeral Services will be Wednesday, March 13, at 1:30 p.m. at the church, with the Rev. Harlan Gillespie officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Stan was born Feb. 15, 1944, in Sioux City, Iowa, the son of Hans and Gertrude Petersen. He graduated from Hinton High School in 1962. He met Sharleen “Shar” K. Newberg in sixth grade when his one-room schoolhouse closed and came to Hinton. They married on June 20, 1964.

He graduated from the University of South Dakota with a business degree. He moved to Cedar Rapids in 1966 and started his employment with FMC (Link Belt Speeder) for eight years. Stan retired from Schneider Electric (Square D Co.) after 29 years of service.

Stan was a member of El Kahir Shrine and served as potentate in 2003. He was a member of the Color Guard, Hospital Dads and Crescent Lodge 25. He enjoyed attending as many of his grandchildren's activities as he could. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and volunteered on many committees. He loved traveling, leaving Iowa in January, and the many fishing trips to Canada with the guys.

Those left to cherish Stan's memory are his wife of almost 49 years; his two daughters, Pamela K. Bays (Joe) of Smithville, Mo., and Denise R. Mitchell (Andy Helle) of Cedar Rapids; a son, Bradley D. Petersen (Stacey Harmsen) of Robins; grandchildren, Morgan and Rylee Mitchell and Lauren and Matthew Bays.; his sister, Hope K. Wilhelm (Rex) of Stuart, Iowa; and many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials may be directed in Stan's name to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE; El Kahir Shrine Transportation Fund, 1200 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE; St. Luke's Hospice, 1026 A Ave. NE; or to his family for his grandchildren's education fund.

The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the St. Luke's and Mercy Hospice staff for their compassion and care through the last months.

Please leave a message tribute or memory to Stan's family on the website at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Stan was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and will be missed dearly by those closest to him. We will think of him often and especially when we visit Dairy Queen for a blizzard (Stan's favorite treat).

Published March 11, 2013 in The Gazette