Eloise Petersen

Eloise Pearl Petersen

Eloise Pearl Petersen, age 91, a life long resident of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Monday, January 30, 2012, at the Heritage House.

Eloise was born to Henry and Effie Reinecke Knop on January 13, 1921 in Atlantic. She attended school in Atlantic graduating from the Atlantic High School. Eloise became a teacher and taught for five years in country schools, which she enjoyed. On August 12, 1943, she was united in marriage to Norval Peter Petersen in Atlantic. Eloise was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church and was active in the Altar Guild, sang in the choir and was a Bible School and Sunday School teacher there. Her favorite things were baby-sitting, spoiling granddaughters, cooking, playing cards and traveling. Eloise's favorite trips were traveling to Hawaii twice and a trip she made to Germany with her husband, Norval. She felt her greatest accomplishments were being a mother, grandmother, teacher and being mentioned in the book, "Driving To Clarinda". Eloise will always be remembered by others as a loving, caring person and a hardworking farm wife.

She is survived by her son, Gilbert Petersen and wife Pat from Nevada, IA; two granddaughters, Stacey Vannorsdel and husband Russell of West Des Moines, IA and Leslie Stone and husband Ben of San Marcos, CA; one great-granddaughter, Evelyn Vannorsdel of West Des Moines, IA; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Knop of Atlantic, IA, Carol Knop of Houston, TX, Faye Petersen, Joyce Petersen and Erma Petersen Hoffman, all from York, NE; and brother-in-law, Darwin Petersen and wife Beverly of York, NE.

Eloise is preceded in death by her husband, Norval, who passed away in 2001; daughters, Marcia and Pamela; brothers, Don and Howard Knop; sister, Dorothy Knop Bornholdt and husbund Merle; her parents, Henry and Effie Knop; brothers-in-law, Maynard, Willard, Clayton and Merlin Petersen and sister-in-law, Alvera Petersen Cox and husband, Gene.

There will be an open visitation at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. A family visitation will be held one hour prior to services at 9:30 am on Friday, February 3, at the Zion Lutheran Church where services will be held at 10:30 with Pastor Kenneth Davidson officiating Committal will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

The Roland Funeral Home is caring for Eloise's family and her arrangements. Condolences for the family may be left on their website at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.