Dorene Agnes Peterson Obituary (1915 - 2011)

Agnes Dorene Peterson was born into this world in Middlefield Township of Buchanan County, Iowa, on June 9, 1915, the daughter of Frank Holman Decker and Josephine (Phoene) Evelyn Gaffney Decker. She grew up on the family farm that bordered the Buffalo Creek with her older brothers, Max, and twin brothers, Ronald and Donald. She attended country school and graduated from Winthrop High School in 1932. She attended Iowa Normal College in Cedar Falls to become a teacher and taught for several years in a country school. Dorene was united in marriage to Leonard Peterson on November 28, 1935. Most of their married lives they lived in Winthrop, where they raised their son, Leo. Dorene served as bookkeeper to Leonard's businesses of Great Plains' Lumberyard and Peterson Implement. She often said the happiest times were the years of married life, her love for Leonard, and his for her. Leonard died on February 4, 1989. She truly loved her creator and was a lifelong member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Winthrop, Iowa, and also belonged to St. Patrick's Guild, the Catholic Daughters of America, the Holy Rosary Society, the Order of Martha, the Little Flower Study Club, and the Buffalo Creek Golf Course. Dorene's life was always about family, whether it be her husband, Leonard; son, Leo; grandchildren and great grandchildren; or her nieces and nephews. She loved her friends, good food, a competitive game of bridge or golf, baseball, embroidery, ceramics and reading. She relished sharing tales about growing up, marrying, and raising their son in her beloved Winthrop. She was so proud of riding in Winthrop's 2007 Parade - her 75th year in graduating from Winthrop High School. Dorene died on Friday, August 19, 2011, at the West Village Care Center in Independence, Iowa, following a lengthy illness at the age of 96 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and brothers. She is survived by her son, Leo Peterson of Redondo Beach, CA; her grandchildren: Jennifer (Rob) Wickwire of Agoura Hills, CA; Michelle (Jon) McKeig of The Woodlands, TX; and Kristian Peterson of Redondo Beach, CA; four great grandchildren: Lauren Wickwire and Ben, Natalie, and Rex McKeig; and many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Monday, August 22, 2011, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Winthrop with Father Donald J. Plamondon and Deacon Dick Kelley officiating. Music will be provided by organist, Ann Slattery and St. Patrick's Choir. Casketbearers will be: Paul Decker, Bill Decker, Terry Peterson, Jim Peterson, Robert Decker and Roger Decker. Interment will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery at Winthrop. Friends may call from 2:00 PM until 6:30 P.M. Sunday, August 21, 2011, at the Fawcett Funeral Home in Winthrop where there will be a rosary at 2:15 PM and a Scripture Service at 6:30 PM and on Monday, August 22,2011, until 10:30 A.M.