Obituary of Bernice Louise Petersen

Bernice Louise Petersen of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2006, at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 5, 2006, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with Chaplain Donnita Payne-Hostetler officiating. Burial will be at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 5 to 7pm Tuesday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent for her family to www.gayandciha.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dialysis Unit of Mercy Hospital, 5264 Council Street, NE, Cedar Rapids, IA. Bernice was born on January 29, 1925 to Lillian and Garrie Hayslett of rural Tipton, Iowa. She graduated from West Branch, Iowa, High School in May 1943. She married Cecil Petersen on October 27, 1943. Bernice had been a part-time employee for the last eight years at Betty Jane Candies, Lindale Mall, Cedar Rapids. Bernice is survived by her husband of 62 years, Cecil H. Petersen; eight daughters, Sandra (Tom) Bauer, Iowa City, Sharon (Charlie) Campbell, North Liberty, Shirley (Tom) Kemp, Marion, Shiela Petersen, Marion, Sharece Derks (Bill Klimek) California, Sharla (Linn) Ries, Armstrong, Suzanne (Randy) Anderson, Ottumwa, and Shalain (Mark) Sisco, Walford; seventeen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Leonard, Lawrence and Phillip. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Bernice’s family and her services.