Rosell Petersen

Rosell Edna Petersen, 92, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Thursday, March 29, 2012, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa.


Rosell was born April 7, 1919, the daughter of John and Clara (Alt) Olson in Audubon, Iowa. She grew up and remained in the Audubon, Atlantic and Elk Horn areas. Rosell attended Audubon country schools until the 8th grade. On February 9, 1938, she was united in marriage to Gaylord Petersen. She and Gaylord farmed together until 1963. Rosell was also a homemaker at this time, raising the children, Kathleen, Marvin, Linda and John. In 1964, Rosell began working at the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company. She then went to work at the Heritage House in laundry service and remained there for 17 years.


She was a member of the Buck Creek Methodist Church for over 50 years, as well as being a member of the United Methodist Women's group for many years. She and her children attended the 125th anniversary of the church last summer. She also belonged to many neighborhood clubs over the years. Rosell enjoyed gardening, flowers, scrapbooking and crocheting. She made numerous afghans for her children, grandchildren and even a few for her great-grandchildren. Above all, Rosell loved spending time with her family.

Surviving Rosell are her children, Marvin (Sharon) Petersen of Omaha, NE, Linda (John) Carlson of Griswold, IA and John (Terri) Petersen of West Des Moines, IA; her son-in-law, Paul "Jim" Hohenberger of Atlantic, IA; her grandchildren, Jill (Roger) Myers of Winterset, IA, Jeff (Julie) Comes of Urbandale, IA, Jodi (Scott) Carlisle of Johnston, IA, John (Teri) Hohenberger of Grimes, IA, James (Theresa) Hohenberger of Atlantic, IA, Jason Petersen of Trenton, NE, Alan (Michele) Carlson of Elliott, IA, Shelly (Ron) Hagen of Lincoln, NE, Tom Carlson of Griswold, IA and fiancé Jennifer Marlier of Naperville, IL, Amy (Jeff) Ogan of Hendersonville, TN, Kyle Petersen of West Des Moines, IA and Brett Petersen and fiancé Jessica of Omaha, NE; sister-in-law, Ruth Olson of Denver, CO; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Clara Olson; her husband, Gaylord; her daughter, Kathleen Hohenberger; and her brothers, Arnold and Lee Olson.


Visitation is planned for Tuesday, April 3, 2012, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. also at Hockenberry Family Care.

Burial will take place at 2:00 p.m. in the Hamlin Cemetery, in Hamlin, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Heritage House to go towards the Good Samaritan Fund in Atlantic.