WILMA IRENE PETERSEN was born December 24, 1914, on a farm near Tekamah, Nebraska, to William and Laura (Fowle) Cornish.  She passed away Saturday, January 1, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Tekamah at the age of 96 years.

Wilma received her education in country schools and attended high school in Tekamah, graduating in May 1933. She belonged to 4H and was a 4H club leader. She worked at Penney’s Store in Tekamah for a short time and helped her mother take care of her three younger sisters. 

On March 31, 1935, she married Erwin L. Petersen at Tekamah. They lived on Erwin’s grandfather, P. C. Petersen’s farm for four years. They moved to Erwin’s grandmother, Emma Henry’s farm, where they farmed for almost twenty-five years. They moved into Tekamah but continued to farm until Erwin could no longer go to the farm. Erwin passed away in November 1988. 

Wilma was a member of the United Methodist Church in Tekamah, where she held various jobs. Her grandfather, James E. Cornish, donated the plot of ground which the church stands on. She was a member of the Silver Creek Club, Victory Club and Eastern Star.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Erwin; sisters, Evelyn Harr and Shirley Kinsey. 

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Duane and Marilyn Petersen of Tekamah; daughters and sons-in-law, Dian and Ed Williams of Sugar Land, Texas, Donna and Alan Hensley of Glenwood, Iowa; sister, Rosamond (Frank) Houghton of Dallas, Texas; brother, Jim (Gayle) Cornish of Tekamah; four grandchildren, Steve Petersen of North Platte, Nebraska, Stacy (Pat) Long of Blair, Nebraska, Heidi (Ken) Mackenzie of Phelan, California, Stein (Celeste) Peterson of Apple Valley, California; seven great grandchildren, Alasdair, Emily and William Mackenzie, Catalina & Caden Peterson, Nicholas and Christopher Long; many relatives and a host of friends. 

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Wednesday, January 5, 2011, 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Tekamah .

MEMORIAL VISITATION: Tuesday, 6 - 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6 - 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah.

BURIAL: Tekamah Cemetery

MEMORIALS: United Methodist Church and the Chatt Senior Citizen Center

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

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