Ronald Paul Petersen

Ronald Paul Petersen, 91, of Rockwell, passed away on Friday, October 13, 2023, at the Rockwell Community Nursing Home, after a short battle with brain cancer. Woodley Funeral Home and Crematory of Sheffield is caring for Ronald and his family. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 16, 2023, from 4-6 p.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church Parish Hall, 502 Second St S, Rockwell. Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at the church with Pastor Jane Harris officiating. Burial will follow at the Rockwell Cemetery. Military rites to be performed by Gallagher Post #208, Rockwell, IA. Ronald was born on June 17, 1932, in Sauk Center, MN to Viktor and Eleonora (Peitersen) Petersen. He attended Rockwell Community High School, Mason City Jr. College and Iowa State University. Ronald served in the United States Navy as a Corpsman from 1950-1954 until he was honorably discharged after serving on the USS Wasp during the Korean Conflict. On December 26, 1954, he was united in marriage to Joan (Harrington) at St. Peter Lutheran Church. To this union four children were born. During his adult life, Ronald worked at Borden’s Ice Cream, American Crystal Sugar, and Rockford Brick and Tile. In the early ‘60’s he and Joan ran Beaver Brook Nursery, selling garden plants and planting trees. Ronald, Joan and family took over the dairy farm from his father, closing the greenhouse and working the farm until retirement. For many years after “retiring” he’d sell his home-grown pumpkins, melons and gourds at his roadside stand. Being extremely proud of his heritage, he took every opportunity he could to teach his family Danish traditions. As an avid reader, he loved learning from reading, mostly history, religion and horticulture. Ronald got much pleasure attending auctions and often recited, “one man's junk is another's man's treasures”. Through the years he had collected various kinds of rocks, fossils and geodes found on the farm. Ronald was a member of Rockwell American Legion for over 70 years, Mason City Men’s Garden Club and St. Peter Lutheran Church where he helped make quilts every week. A visit with Ronald always included a cup of coffee. Seldom did he miss a Thursday evening playing cards at the Legion with friends. Ronald was recognized and honored to go to Washington DC with an Honor Flight on May 7, 2022. Recently he was honored to receive a Quilt of Valor. Nothing made him happier than to celebrate any occasion with his extended family, especially if it included good food and some card playing. His grand, great-grand and great-great-grand kids were a source of much joy as seen in the many photos that include a little one on his lap. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Joan Petersen of Rockwell, son Carl (LuAnn) Petersen of Jackson, NE, daughter Mary Etta (Bryan) Miller of Rockwell, daughter Ruthann (Thomas) Murphy of Dougherty, foster son Rick Feuring, Garner. 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild, sisters Dorothea Smith of Del City, OK and Nancy (Robert) Corporon of Dougherty and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. He was preceded in death by parents Viktor and Eleonora Petersen, brother Fred Petersen, foster brother William “Bill” Shaffer and his son Joel Petersen. Ronald’s family would like to thank each and every employee of the Rockwell Community Nursing home for the excellent tender-loving care and kindness he received while there.

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Ronald Paul Petersen

June 17, 1932 - October 13, 2023