Marilee Elizabeth Peterson

Marilee Peterson passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family in her home in Aurelia on August 12.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am, Wednesday, August 17th, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa, with Rev. Jean Morse officiating.

Marilee Elizabeth (Dorr) Peterson was born October 7, 1937, in Cherokee, IA, to Robert and Mona (Leonard) Dorr. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Marcus, IA, confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Cherokee, IA. She graduated from Washington High School, Cherokee, in 1955. 

She married the love of her life, Harold Peterson, on December 23, 1956, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

They moved to their first home east of Aurelia and began farming and raising a family.  In 1963, they purchased a farm north of Aurelia where Harold built a home and together, they cultivated a love of farming, family and faith. They enjoyed adventures by motorhome from coast to coast along with a trip to visit relatives in Sweden and Germany.  They retired from farming and moved to Aurelia in 2009. In 2019, they moved to the Gardens in Cherokee and in 2021, to Holstein Senior Living.

Marilee was a devout member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where she was an active volunteer in several roles, including Sunday School teacher, the Social Ministry Committee and WELCA president. She worked for attorneys Nelson and Nelson, Grundman-Osterling Construction, Willow Hill, and Fun Creations in Cherokee. She and Harold enjoyed card club with friends for many years.

Marilee loved spending time with her family, playing cards and cribbage. She always knew how to make her home inviting and warm with the aroma of sweet baked treats and coffee brewing, ready to serve at a moment's notice. She was known for her almond cheesecake, gingerbread cookies, and her rommegrut she would make for the Scandinavian suppers. She was an amazing seamstress and sewed many outfits for her daughters. Grandma Marilee loved and supported her grandchildren and attended many of their activities. She was a wonderful homemaker and devoted farm wife who loved tending the flowers and cats around their home.  At Holstein Senior Living, she was welcomed by Covid the Cat, a stray who had been adopted by the memory care unit during the pandemic, and the two of them nestled in each other from day one. She was generous, kind and a wonderful listener, supporter and encourager to her family and friends.  Her joy, hospitality and faith are part of her legacy that lives in the hearts and lives of her family.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory her children, Melanie (Kenny) Petersen, Kris (Dan) Anderson, Katie (Todd) Burkholder, Lissa (Dan) Kahl; her  grandchildren, Leah (Dan) Niemeier, Drew (Shana) Wieland, Dustin (Jessica) Wieland, LaTrisha (Keenan) Deutsch, Nick (Sharee) Petersen, Meagan (Caleb) Priebe, Molly (Efrain) Placencia, Mickey (Heath) Moenck, Justin Burkholder, Colin (Madeline) Burkholder, Isaiah Kahl and Jordan Kahl; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Grace and Anna Niemeier, Reese, Evie, & Delta Wieland, Benjamin & Brady Wieland, Akaia, Mikko, & Anara Deutsch, and Jade Petersen, Elyn and Ezra Priebe, Aiden & Aftyn Placencia, Eden Moenck. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her parents Robert and Mona and two sisters, Mary JoAnn and Marcia Kloster.

She will be missed and mourned by many.

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