Anton Petersen

Anton “Tony” Petersen, 94, of Anita, Iowa, passed away Friday, December 29, 2017, at Atlantic Specialty Care in Atlantic, Iowa.

Anton Peter Petersen was born September 29, 1923, in Audubon, Iowa, to Peter Nels and Rachel M. (Gillpatrick) Petersen. He lived his entire life in the Audubon and Anita area. He attended country school in rural Anita through the eighth grade and then helped on the family farm. On October 7, 1954, he married LaVon Rathman in Audubon. Tony was a long-time member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Anita.

Throughout Tony’s working life he farmed, was a bus driver, and owned and operated Petersen Refrigeration doing electrical, plumbing, heating and refrigeration work.

Tony’s favorite activity was being with his children and grandchildren and playing games with them. He enjoyed woodworking and built a cedar chest for everyone and collected and made music boxes. Other enjoyments included church, playing cards (especially pinochle), figuring puzzle books, reading western books, watching western movies, and listening to old time country music. He appreciated the Oak Tree Opry in Anita and helped renovate it.

Preceding Tony in death were his parents; his wife, LaVon in 2001; son-in-law, Gary Bruns; grandchildren, Jeremy Faga, Zachary Hillhouse, Baylee Woods and Amanda Rieckens; sister, Thelma (Owen) Howell; brothers, George (Mildred) Largey and Wilbur Largey.

Surviving Tony are his children, Barbara (Barry) Faga of IL, Bruce Taylor of OK, Rita Bruns of NE, Rodney Petersen of IA, Rachel (Garry) Swedlund of OK, and Teresa (Chuck) Ramsey of IA; grandchildren, Mark (Susan) Faga, Shelly (Chad) Pieper, Angela Hillhouse, Christopher Taylor, Bill (Charity) Taylor, Jennifer (Brian) Frisbie, Jessica Bruns, Jason (Jennifer) Swedlund, Stacy (Greg) Woods, Jacob Ramsey, Brandon (Brooke) Ramsey, Cindy Talamantes and Keith Swedlund; 23 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation with family will be from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Anita, Iowa.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Anita, Iowa, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to Holy Cross Lutheran Church or to the family to use as Tony wished.

Hockenberry Family Care in Anita, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.