Arnold Petersen

Arnold Glenn Petersen

Varna-Arnold Glenn Petersen, 80, of Varna passed away at 11:15
a.m. on Tuesday January 1, 2013 at his home.  He was born on
March 25, 1932 in rural La Salle County to the late Austin Glenn
and Adele Louise (Hoffman) Petersen.  He married Florence
McCall on November 5, 1955 in Belleview, MO; they later
divorced.

He is survived by three daughters, Christie (Jeff) Gonigam-Maas,
Annette (John) Lionberger, and Mary Ann Strong, all of Lacon; four
grandchildren, Jeremy Gonigam, of Bloomington, Matthew Strong, of
Lacon, Tanner Strong, of Lacon and Ailsa Lionberger, of Lacon; one
brother, Allan (Kathy) Petersen, of Varna; and his special friend
June Farrar, of Toluca.

Arnold was a 1949 graduate of Varna High School.  He farmed
briefly with his parents until he joined the U.S. Army in 1952
where he served during the Korean Conflict with the 3rd
Infantry Division, 7th Regiment. After his discharge in
1954 he continued farming in the Varna area.  Later in life
Arnold worked for Peoria Tube and Forming and  managed the
Peoria Skeet and Trap Club.

Arnold was a life member of the Magnolia American Legion Post
#254 for over 50 years.  He was a life member of Veterans of
Foreign Wars and Disabled Veterans of America Chapter 18.  He
served on the board of Varna Farmers Cooperative and served as
president for one year; and he was a member of the Marshall-Putnam
Farm Bureau and a Trustee of Roberts Township.  He was a
Master Mason of the Magnolia Masonic Lodge # 103.

Arnold was a loving father, grandfather, brother, and friend who
will be greatly missed.

Cremation rites have been accorded.  Services will be held
on Saturday January 5, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Lenz Memorial Home in
Lacon; the Reverend Casey Taylor will officiate.  There will
be a visitation one hour prior to the services.  Masonic rites
will be held at 9:45 a.m. Burial of ashes will follow the service
at the Salem # 2 Cemetery where military rites will be accorded by
the Magnolia American Legion.

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