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Petersen, Arnold (1919 - 2017)

PETERSEN, DOONAN, NELSEN, CHRISTENSEN, JAMES, DISORI, HUSTON, WIGNALL, JUHL, FABIAN, WOLKEN, DOONAN, ANDERSON, PURDUM, BRYANT, ABEL, ESBECK, SCHWARTZ, JACKSON, ARNHOLTZ, ANDERSEN, ABEL

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/31/2017 at 19:52:48

Name of deceased: Arnold K. Petersen

Aged: 98 yrs, 4 mo, 8 days

Residence: Atlantic, IA (formerly of Elk Horn, IA)

Born: April 14, 1919; Sharon Township, Audubon County, IA

Died: Aug. 22, 2017; Heritage House, Atlantic, IA

Funeral services: Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017; Elk Horn Lutheran Church, Elk Horn, IA; burial with military honors by the Elk Horn American Legion Post #322 was in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.

Survived by: Wife of 19 years, Loretta Doonan Petersen of Atlantic, IA; children, Allan (spouse, Carol) Petersen of Elk Horn, IA, Deloris (spouse, Rendell “Butch”) Nelsen of Ankeny, IA, and Michelle Petersen, wife of the late Curtis Petersen of Audubon, IA; grandchildren, Jennifer (spouse, Loren) Christensen of Elk Horn, IA, Anthony (spouse, Deborah) Petersen of Pewaukee, WI, Angela (spouse, Jeremy) James of Red Oak, IA, Michael Petersen of Ankeny, IA, Matthew (spouse, Marisa) Petersen of Ankeny, IA, Megan (spouse, Michael) Disori of Glastonbury, CT, Emily (spouse, Charles) Huston of Ankeny, IA, and Andrea (spouse, Jeff) Wignall of Ankeny, IA; great-grandchildren, Amanda, Ashlyn, Anna, Josh, Karenna, Brendan, Kiersten, Harper, Chloe, Chase, Eleanor, and Isabelle; step-daughters, Denise (spouse, Dennis) Juhl of Colorado Springs, CO, Jane (spouse, Dean) Fabian of Elk Horn, IA, and Ann (spouse, Chuck) Wolken of Harlan, IA; step-daughter-in-law, Shelly Doonan of Dallas Center, IA; 15 step-grandchildren; numerous step-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Carol Anderson of CA, Bertha Purdum and Mary Bryant, both of Lenox, IA; brother-in-law, Chester Abel of Creston, IA; nieces;, nephews; other relatives and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Hans P. and Emma Katrina (nee Esbeck) Petersen; wife, Annabel (deceased Feb. 23, 1994); son, Curtis Petersen; sisters, Viola Schwartz and Erva Jackson; step-daughter, Linda Arnholtz; step-son, Jamie Doonan

Education: attended rural school in Oakfield Township in Audubon County, IA, until his help was needed on the farm

Religious affiliation: lifelong member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, Elk Horn, IA; he was baptized there on June 8, 1919, and confirmed there on March 25, 1934

Military service: In Sep. 1942, Arnold enlisted in the U. S. Army, and the following Feb., was deployed to North Africa and served with the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, which aided in the defeat of General Rommel. From there, he was sent to Sicily to prepare for amphibious landings in Salerno and Anzio, Italy. He continued on to Southern France and northward to the Battle of the Bulge, after which he commanded his tank into Germany and the Bavarian Alps, where Hitler’s hideout was in Berchtesgaden. During his time as Tank Commander, he met Audie Murphy and developed great respect for him, and Murphy became his hero. Arnold was honorably discharged in Oct. 1945 with the rank of Sergeant, after receiving numerous medals.

Marriages: (1) Eleanor Annabel Andersen; Feb. 6, 1946; Danish Lutheran Church, Elk Horn, IA (2) Loretta J. (nee Abel) Doonan; April 11, 1998; Harlan United Methodist Church, Harlan, IA

Employment: After leaving school to help on the family farm at home, he also worked as a farm hand for others in the area. Following his military service, Arnold returned to help operate the family farm and he purchased of the farm from his parents. Arnold and Eleanor continued in the family tradition of farming, growing row crops and raising cattle, hogs and chickens.

Hobbies/Interests: Member, Audubon County Farm Bureau, Elk Horn American Legion, and the Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company Board. Enjoyed playing dominoes and travel, including many places throughout the world. He was able to join other veterans in 2014 on the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Arnold’s commitment to his WWII battalion was always important to him, and he rarely missed the annual reunions of the 601st Tank and Destroyer Division, held all over the United States.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; rolandfuneralservice.com


 

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