Melvin Lee Petersen, Sr.

Melvin Lee Petersen, Sr., the son of Peter L. and Ida Kyhnn Petersen, was born May 18, 1934, at his parents home northwest of Exira, Iowa and died May 25, 2010, at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 76 years and 7 days.
Melvin was baptized and confirmed at the Hamlin Lutheran Church in Hamlin, Iowa. He attended rural schools, Hamlin # 9, through the eighth grade and then worked for several different farmers in the area with thrashing.
On September 1, 1953, he was united in marriage to Virginia Swolley by the Justice of the Peace in Atlantic, Iowa. In 1954, they moved northwest of Exira and started farming. They operated this farm for several years then moved to a farm west of Brayton, Iowa in 1967. Melvin raised row crops and livestock. In 1975, in addition to farming, Melvin started his own trucking business hauling grain and livestock. Melvin owned the trucking Company for many years and then sold the business to his son Melvin, Jr. in 1996. Melvin continued to farm until he retired. In March of 2010, he moved to the Atlantic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Atlantic.
Melvin loved hunting, fishing, and raising coon hounds. He liked playing cards and loved his horses. He enjoyed talking to friends and telling them stories
Preceding him in death was his granddaughter: Carlee Petersen; his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law: Carl and Helen (King) Swolley; his brothers: Donald and wife Avis Petersen, Glen and wife Lola Petersen, Vernon and wife Ruth Petersen; his sisters: Elise and husband Leo Johansen, Eva and husband Elmer Presel, Lorraine and husband Glen Larsen; his sisters-in-law: Audrey Seller, Janet and husband Darrell Popp, Barbara and husband Dean Kuntzweiler; his brother-in-law: Richard Swolley; and a nephew: Carl Warren Swolley.
Survivors include his wife: Virginia Petersen of Exira, Iowa; his children: Melvin Petersen, Jr. and wife Linda and Rodney and wife Mona Petersen all of Atlantic, Iowa, Dave and wife Jodi Petersen and Larry and wife Audrey Petersen all of Audubon, Iowa, Judy and husband Bill Sandbothe of Marne, Iowa, and Dennis Petersen of Exira, Iowa; 64 grandchildren; 42 great grandchildren; his dog: Wimpy; his sister: Maxine Miller of Des Moines, Iowa, brothers-in-law: Carl Swolley, Jr. of Mission, Texas, Tim Seller of Atlantic, Iowa; his sister-in-law: Virginia Swolley of Atlantic, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The honorary casket bearers will be his grandchildren and great grandchildren. The casket bearers will be Linn Larsen, Gary Larsen, Virgil Larsen, Leon Larsen, Eugene Johansen, and Roger Andersen.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Hamlin Lutheran Cemetery east of Hamlin, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Friday evening, May 29, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Melissa Drake on Saturday, May 29, 2010, at 10:30 A.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.