VERA MAXINE PETERSEN was born December 12, 1920 in Winside, Nebraska to William and Mattie (McMillan) Warnemunde.  She passed away Sunday, December 14, 2008 at Oakland Heights Nursing Home in Oakland, Nebraska at the age of 88 years.

Vera graduated from Tekamah High School in 1938. 

On January 25, 1939, Vera and Lynn Clarence Petersen were united in marriage at the Baptist Church parsonage in Tekamah, Nebraska.  Vera recalls hearing the noon whistle blow right after their vows.  They farmed the Wetherell farm for nineteen years.  In 1958, they moved to the Petersen home place in Silver Creek Township in Burt County where Lynn had grown up.

In 1967 Vera and Lynn received an Ak-Sar-Ben Pioneer Farm Family Award.  The farm had been in the family for 100 years having been homesteaded by a Great Great Grandfather the year Nebraska became a state.  They also received a Soil Conservation Award for being good stewards of the land and preserving it for future generations.
 In 1989 they retired and moved into Tekamah.  Lynn passed away on March 3, 1997. 

Vera was an active member of First Baptist Church in Tekamah.  She taught children’s Sunday School for many years and was active in the Women’s Ministry.  She loved her church family and enjoyed the great Christian fellowship there. 

 Vera loved reading books.  For a few years she shared that love of books weekly with residents of the Tekamah Nursing home.  She was an active member of the Chatt Center and was always eager to read to those attending the evening meals there.  Crocheting was a favorite pastime for Vera.  She made many afghans including one for each of her grandchildren when they graduated from high school.  She was generous in sharing many of her crocheted creations with friends and relatives.  Vera always had an artistic nature and later in life began painting.  She painted several pictures which her family members still enjoy.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lynn and three brothers; Earl, Russell, and Wendell Warnemunde.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son and daughter-in-law: Robert J. and Melinda Petersen of Omaha, Nebraska; daughters and sons-in-law: Phyllis and Jim Rieken of Tekamah, Evelyn and Mark Patterson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; eight grandchildren Laura (Alan) Wickham of Tekamah, Annette (Rich) Renken of Bertrand, NE, Christine (Rod) Hansen of Mo. Valley, IA, Carrie (Marc) Anderson of Waco, TX, Seth (Holly) Petersen, Rebecca Petersen all of  Omaha, Molly Petersen of Alexandria, VA, Zach  Cohoe of Omaha; six great grandchildren: Dustin, Tigh, Eileen, Lydia, Zach, Samantha; sister: Lila Jean Mathias of St. James, MN.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Tekamah, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 1 – 8 p.m., family receiving friends from 6 – 8 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. PRAYER SERVICE all at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah. Visitation will also be held Wednesday at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL:  Tekamah Cemetery

MEMORIALS:  The First Baptist Church, Tekamah

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelanfuneralservices@hotmail.com