Esther L. Petersen

Esther L. Petersen, age 96 of Miles passed away Thursday, March 5, 2020 at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 11 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Preston. Visitation will take place from 9:00 to 10:45 AM preceding the service. Burial will take place at Andover Cemetery.

Esther was born June 13, 1923, on the farm north of Miles where she continued to live and raise her family. She was the daughter of Jerry “PJ” Petersen and Anna (Gahlsen) Petersen. She attended country school in rural Miles. Esther married Orvin E. Petersen on November 28, 1945 at Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton. She farmed with her husband for over fifty years by Clinton and later north of Miles.

Esther enjoyed gardening and loved tending to her flowers. She also liked to sew and participated in the sewing circle at St. John’s where she was a lifelong member. Esther loved to dance with her husband, Orvin, and they were members of the Polka Club of Iowa. She was also an avid Cubs fan.

Esther will be dearly missed by her son Terry (Sherri) Petersen of Miles; five grandsons, Doug Petersen of DeWitt, Matt (Tammy) Petersen of Preston, Jeff (Eileen) Petersen of Goose Lake, Brian (Amy) Petersen of Davenport, and Ben (Emily) Petersen of Andover; sixteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. Esther is preceded in death by her parents, PJ and Anna Petersen; her husband, Orvin Petersen; two sons, Gerald Petersen and Steven Petersen (infant); three brothers, and three sisters.