Gerald O. Petersen

Gerald O. Petersen, age 61 of rural Preston, Iowa, died on Sunday, October 11, 2009 at Jackson County Regional Health Center, Maquoketa, Iowa. A funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 16, 2009 at the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston, with Reverend Gregory Geier officiating. A Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, October 15, 2009 at the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery, DeWitt, Iowa with military rites accorded by the Eugene-McManus American Legion Post #238, DeWitt. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Gerald was born on March 12, 1948 at Mercy Hospital in Clinton, Iowa to Orvin and Esther Petersen. He was a 1966 graduate of Miles High School. He married Dianne Martin on January 13, 1968 in DeWitt Iowa. Gerald graduated from Clinton Community College in 1968. Gerald proudly served his country in the Iowa National Guard from 1968-1974. Gerald was a hard working lifelong farmer in the Miles area. Gerald loved being a farmer and his happiest times were spent on his farm with his boys and grandchildren. He enjoyed vacationing and spending time with his family and friends and most of all, his loving wife Dianne. Gerald managed Plum River Golf course in Preston from 1998-2006. Most recently Gerald was employed at Plastics Unlimited, Preston.

Gerald will be dearly missed by his loving wife Dianne; three sons, Douglas (Jennifer) Petersen of DeWitt, Matthew (Tammy) Petersen of Preston and Jeffrey (Eileen) Petersen of Goose Lake; nine grandchildren Kathryn, Madison, Hailey, Brandt, Makenzie, Klaire, Samantha, Brady, and Sadie; parents Orvin and Esther Petersen of Miles; and one brother, Terry (Sherri) Petersen of Miles.

Gerald was preceded in death by one infant brother Steven, his loving mother in-law, Alice Martin; brother in-law, Kenny Marshall and his paternal and maternal grandparents.