- Date Of Birth: August 28, 1938
- Date Of Death: February 27, 2021
- State: Iowa
Irene Petersen, age 82 of Algona, passed away Saturday, February 27, 2021 at the Kossuth Regional Health Center. Masks are required and social distancing practices will be followed. Irene Louise Petersen, the daughter of Severin and Martha (Bierstedt) Opheim, was born on August 28, 1938 in Whittemore, Iowa. Irene attended elementary school at Lotts Creek and graduated from Algona High School in 1956. On June 14, 1959, Irene was united in marriage with Orie “Bud” Petersen Jr. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Algona. She worked as a grocery clerk at Hy-Vee in Algona until her retirement in 2005. Irene also sold Avon; many nights she would stay up late with her Avon business only to get up early to work at Hy-Vee. Irene loved her shopping trips to Younkers, Kohl’s and Walmart. In her earlier years, she would bowl league with Bud. Irene enjoyed starting crafts. Some might get finished, some might get put into the to be continued pile. Irene crocheted blankets and collected porcelain dolls and the holiday Barbie’s. She loved her flowers her husband continuously took care of as well as watching the birds at one of her many feeders. Another one of her enjoyments is that Irene always tuned into Price is Right at 10:00 AM and Let’s Make A Deal at 2:00 PM. She rarely missed any episode. The most important thing in her life was her faith and her family. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much Left to cherish Irene’s memory are her children, Kevin Petersen of Cedar Rapids and Melissa (Kevin) Rash of Algona; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and sisters, Maxine Cunningham of Algona and Eunice Traub of West Bend. She was preceded in death by her parents, Severin and Martha Opheim; step-father, Robert Eickelcamp; husband, Bud; daughter, Vickie Elbert; son-in-law, Randy Elbert and three brothers, Glenn, Stanley and Harold Opheim.