Obituary of Thelma L. Petersen

Thelma L. Petersen, 97 of Iowa City formerly of Panora, Iowa died Thursday, February 4, 2010, at the Bickford Cottage in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 8, 2010, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, where a reception will immediately follow the services. Graveside services will be held later that day at 3:00 p.m. at the West Cemetery in Panora. Following these services everyone is invited to return to the First Christian Church in Panora for a time of refreshments and fellowship. Memorial donations can be made in her memory to Iowa City Hospice or First Christian Church in Panora. Online condolences may be sent through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Thelma Lucille Reeves was born September 11, 1912, in Dawson, Iowa the daughter of Otto and Pearle (Linsley) Reeves. She attended schools in Panora. On June 30, 1928, she was united in marriage to Ralph "Bob" Petersen in Guthrie Center, Iowa. They were one of the few families that were involved in a program through the Farm & Home administration that assisted families in buying farms. They were chosen for this because of Bob's belief and practice in soil conservation. The couple farmed in Panora area for many years before moving to Iowa City in 1978. In Panora she was a member of the First Christian Church and a member of the Order of Eastern Star in Linden. Thelma enjoyed spending time with her family, going out to eat, often ordering steak and onion rings, sewing, tending to her flowers, cooking and baking, especially cookies and she was always willing to try a new recipe. Her family includes her two daughters and their husbands, Marjorie and Stan Aldinger of Iowa City, and Jeanne and Ernie DeJong of Pella; nine grandchildren, Deborah DeJong, Teresa DeJong VanWyk, Mike, Tom, and Scott DeJong, Lori Aldinger, Jim Aldinger, Becky Aldinger, and Patti Umble; and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Bob on November 24, 2001; granddaughter, Beth; and a brother, Claude Reeves.