Gerald F. Petersen (Osmond)

Funeral services for Gerald F. Petersen will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 6, 2018 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Osmond, NE. Visitation will be from 4-8 P.M. Friday at the Catholic Church in Osmond with a Prayer Service at 7:00. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Gerald “Jerry” Francis Petersen, passed into the arms of The Lord, surrounded by loving family, on January 1, 2018 at the age of 79. Born in Plainview, Ne on May 4th, 1938, to Loyal Petersen and Genevieve Stamper, he grew up in Osmond NE, attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated in 1956 from Osmond High School. Jerry attended Creighton University and graduated in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration. He returned to Osmond to support his father in the development of the family’s agricultural business, and eventually became the President and General Manager of Petersen & Son, Inc., a Zimmatic Irrigation dealership, fertilizer and grain bin company with satellite offices in O’Neill, Ne and Centerville, SD. Along with his agri-business career, Jerry was a member of the Army Reserves and went on active duty in February, 1962. While stationed in Chignon, France, he met and married Joyce Ann Addison in July, 1963. Upon completion of his active duty, the couple returned to Osmond and he continued in the Army Reserves earning the rank of Major.

Jerry and Joyce had five children. The couple was married for 23 years before Joyce lost her battle to cancer in 1987. He married his current wife, Donna Herrick in 1997. They spent many years together, first in Battle Creek, NE and eventually moved to Norfolk Lodge and Suites.

Jerry provided support and fundraising assistance to numerous boards, committees and organizations. Some of these included KVSS Catholic Radio, Omaha Archbishop’s Committee for Development and Stewardship, St. Augustine Indian Mission, Norfolk Rescue Mission and Northeast Community College Board of Governors. He was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Knights of Columbus, V.F.W. Post 7838, American Legion Post 326 and Reserve Officer Association. Jerry was very active in the “Cursillo”/Christians Encounter Christ movement through which he worked 29 weekends sharing his faith and sponsoring many friends and family members on their faith journey. Jerry enjoyed gardening, dancing, walking, photography and making home movies. Jerry was often referred to as the “Pen Man” as he loved to share his faith for the Lord by passing out his special message pens to anyone he met. He never met a stranger.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Ann Petersen, parents, Loyal and Genevieve Petersen, and sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Joe Berzina.

Jerry is beloved and survived by: Lora (Bassem) Haddad, Paul (Trish) Petersen, Becky (Pat) Mooney, Missy (Stuart) Youmans and Jessica (Jason) Gansebom; wife: Donna Herrick and step children: Kendra (Ricardo) Camio, Jason and Josh Herrick; sisters: Joan (Jack) Leuck, Diane (Tom) Borst, Mary (Stan) Wragge and Ann Petersen; grandchildren: Alex, Ariana and Eric Haddad; Emma, Alyse and Mia Petersen; PJ and Parker Mooney; Brooklyn, Kaylee and Eli Youmans; Trevor Washburn; Sebastian, Ben and Liam Camio; and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Norfolk Rescue Mission, St. Augustine Indian Mission in Winnebago, Nebraska, or to the family for other tributes.