Robert E. Petersen

Robert "Bob" Petersen, 83, of rural Essex and formerly of Nebraska City, entered into rest on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Society - Villisca.   Memorials in Bob's name are being directed to the Wounded Warrior Project.  

CTOC Robert Eugene Petersen, USN Ret, entered into peace on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at Good Samaritan Society – Villisca, Iowa at the age of 83 years, 1 month, 17 days.  Bob was born on September 30, 1936, to Alvin and Catherine (Rakestraw) Petersen in Nebraska City, Nebraska.

He attended the Nebraska City Public Schools, graduating with the Class of 1955.  Bob participated in football and basketball and was multi letter athlete in each.  He was also in the National Guard during high school and enlisted in the Navy following graduation.

On June 25, 1956, Bob and Paula E. Graham were united in marriage at Lorton, Nebraska.  To this union three children were born, Patricia (Patti), Susan and John.

Bob served most of his service time with the National Security Agency.  His duty stations were in Maryland; Adak, Alaska; Okinawa, Japan; Hawaii and Virginia.  In 1974, he retired as CTOC (E-8).

Following retirement the family settled in Shenandoah, Iowa, where Bob took up taxidermy and built an extensive collection of guns.  He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as playing golf until his health prevented him from doing so.  He was a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Shenandoah American Legion Post #88.

Preceding Bob in death were his daughter, Susan Lynn Petersen; son, John Eugene Petersen and his wife Alice (Reed) Petersen; grandson, Troy Eugene Petersen; parents; brother, Donald Petersen; sister, Alice Jean Sharp and her husband Al Sharp.  Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Paula Petersen; daughter, Patricia Johnson of Shenandoah, IA; granddaughter, Jessica Sue Johnson of Atlanta, GA; sister, Rita Place and husband Richard of Eugene, OR; sister-in-law, Theresa Petersen; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert E. Petersen, please visit our floral store.