Marie Petersen's Obituary
MARIE M. PETERSEN
WAUPACA, WISCONSIN Age 98 passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2005 at her home in the Town of Dayton. Marie was born in Racine, Wisconsin in 1907, and was the daughter of Danish immigrants. Her father and mother arrived at Ellis Island in 1906. Marie was born Metta Maria Laursen on the 25th day of April 1907, the only daughter and oldest child of Martin Peter Laursen and Anna Margarita (Andersen) Laursen. Marie was gifted in art, music and athletics. In high school she could jump her own height and she out ran all the boys in track. Her music talents included piano, organ, accordion, guitar and violin. She was the organist at Trinity Lutheran Church and helped out in other churches when an organist was needed. She used her musical talents and creativity to entertain the residents at Bethany Home. Marie attended Dana College at Blair, Nebraska for one year. There she met Adolf Petersen. She had to cut her schooling short and go back to work to help her two brothers who were training for the ministry. Marie went back to Racine and Adolf continued his studies for the ministry. They were married three years later, June 6th, 1935, a week before he was ordained. Their first ministry was in Shenington, WI and from there went on to Brush, CO. During WWII, Marie cared for their three very young children while her husband, Chaplain Adolf Petersen was in China and India for two ½ years with the Army Air Corps. Upon his return he was ordered to Californina. She sold the house in one day, bought a trailer and went with him not to be separated again. The trailer was their home for stays in California, Texas, and Kansas until they retired from the regular military. After the war, she and Adolf and their four children, having traveled back and forth across the south and southwest, began their parish ministry in Omaha, NE. From there they came to Waupaca in 1949 to serve Trinity. At Trinity Lutheran Church besides being the organist she was also the choir director and the youth leader. Marie and Pastor Pete’s ministry included the Bethany Children’s Home where they lived with their 4 children and 18 resident children. When the home closed they stayed on to care for the property and then initiated and helped to organize the beginning of the now existing Bethany Nursing Home. Years later, after retiring from the ministry at Trinity Church, Marie and Pastor Pete went on to serve again at Bethany as Chaplin, organist and chief entertainers for the residents. Marie is survived by:
Sons: A. Samuel (Janet) Petersen of Green Bay, WI
Philip (Mickey) Petersen of Minneapolis, MN
Jon (Amber) Petersen of Waupaca, WI
Daughter: Miriam (Peter) Burrows of Waupaca, WI
Eleven Grandchildren
Fourteen Great-Grandchildren She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Rev. Adolf Samuel Petersen “Pastor Pete”, and two brothers, Pastor William Larsen and Pastor Stanley Larsen. A Funeral Service will be on Friday, May 27, 2005 at 11:00 AM at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Waupaca. A visitation will be held from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at the church on Friday. Burial will be at Lakeside Memorial Park in Waupaca following the services. The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements. A special thank-you to Ginger Zempel and her staff at Caring Hands for all of the help and support given to our family. The special care Marie received will never be forgotton. HOLLY FUNERAL HOME
526 S. Main Street
Waupaca, WI 54981
www.hollyfuneralhome.com
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