Donald D. Petersen

Donald D. Petersen
Sutherland, Iowa
Services for Donald D. Petersen, age 80, of Sutherland who passed away on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at Careage Hills Healthcare in Cherokee. His funeral service will be at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Sutherland with Rev. Brett Witmer ~ officiating.
Burial will be at Waterman Cemetery in Sutherland, Iowa.
Visitation with family present will be from 5 – 7 P.M. on Monday, January 17, 2022, at the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina.

Donald D. Petersen

Donald Dean Petersen, age 80, of Sutherland, Iowa passed away on January 13, 2022. He was the only son of Jens and Alma (Thiessen) Petersen and was born May 12, 1941 in Primghar, Iowa. He was baptized in Calumet, Iowa and later confirmed in 1957 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Sutherland where he was a long-time member. Don attended Sutherland schools and graduated from Sutherland High School with the class of 1959. After high school he began farming for V.S. and Jim Flinders where he worked for 10 years. In 1964 he moved into Sutherland and farmed north of Sutherland with his dad. He was united in marriage to Mary Fessler and to this union four children were born, Brenda, Sharon, Stacey and Bob. In 1969, Don purchased a farm south of Sutherland and made it his family home where he milked cows and raised hogs along with grain farming. He retired from farming several years ago.
Don truly enjoyed the farm where he raised his children and his greatest joy over the years was spending time with his family. He was always ready to take a drive around the country with the dog to see how the crops were growing. To family and friends, he was an expert advice giver, knower of all the things, someone who would listen no matter what the topic, always there in a pinch, never judging and always seeing the good in everyone. Over the years he enjoyed fishing and sightseeing vacations. In retirement he could often be found chatting with family and friends, playing cards on his tablet and supervising fieldwork.
Don is survived by his children Brenda (Dale) Miller of rural Paullina, Iowa; Sharon (Mike) Flinders of Sutherland, Iowa; Stacey Petersen (John DiCello) of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Bob Petersen (Molly Knudtson) of Sutherland, Iowa; four grandchildren Tara (Kevin) Brown of Spencer, Iowa; Leah (Brian) Templer of Sutherland, Iowa and Lydia and Asa Flinders of Sutherland, Iowa; five great grandchildren Torrin, Teagan, Jentrie Templer; Oscar and Philip Brown also other relatives and many friends.
Don was preceded in death by his parents Jens and Alma Petersen.