Sept. 11, 1942 — Aug. 4, 2017
ALGONA — A funeral Mass for Robert L. Petersen was held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Algona with the Rev. Edward M. Girres and Rev. Mr. William Black officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.
Robert Lee Petersen (“Bobby” to his family and friends) was born in the Burt area on Sept. 11, 1942, the eighth of 10 children of Orie Petersen Sr. and Dorothy (Bonnett) Petersen. He grew up on area farms and loved the rural lifestyle it afforded him. He was married to Joyce Ludwig at St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church in Algona, on June 12, 1965.
As a young man, he worked as a hired farm hand and as a tire repairman at Jack’s OK in Algona. He also worked at Brougham Industries until it closed and the spent the next 30 years at Snap-On Tools, until retirement in January of 2008. In earlier years, Bob served on the Algona Volunteer Fire Department and has been a life-long member of St. Cecelia Catholic Church.
Bobby was an unselfish and dedicated family man. He will be remembered as a kind and gentle man who was fair to all. He loved being surrounded by his family and spent many happy years with them in all types of activities from softball, to volleyball, bowling, water skiing, snow ski trips to Mankato, card and poker parties, board games and always, always, the “sacred” family picnics. He enjoyed fishing, refinishing furniture, and antiquing. Bobby was an accomplished baker and made terrific homemade pizzas. His grandchildren were his greatest joy.
He remained close to his and Joyce’s parents, siblings, sibling spouses, nieces and nephews throughout his life. His last days were spent surrounded by the people he loved and that he had spent his life with.
Robert L. Petersen died Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, at the West Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center at the age of 74, with his wife of 53 years by his side. As was true throughout their married life, he left this world with not only her love, but a “Honey Do” list!
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Petersen of Algona; two children, Tara (Jorge) Gonzalez of Cedar Rapids, and Corey Petersen of Algona; eight grandchildren, Gabriela, Carter, Alexandria, and Cooper Gonzalez, and Courtney, Cameron, Trey, and Ariella Petersen; two brothers and three sisters, Orie “Bud” Petersen Jr. (Irene) of Algona, Rose Fokken of Algona, Betty (Bill) Johnson of Algona, Jerry Petersen (Kay) of Waukee, and Sharon Fagan of Madrid; two sisters-in-law, Joyce “Myrtle” Petersen of Algona and Sandra Wiskus of Madrid; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Cayden Lee Gonzalez; one sister, Sandra Dehler; and three brothers, Harold, Darreld, and Donnie Petersen; brothers-in-law, Luverne Wiskus, David “Kyke” Ludwig, Ed Dehler, and Gary Fokken; and sisters-in-law, Vivian Petersen and Zelma Petersen.
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.