Frieda O. Petersen, 91, of Reedsburg, Wis., and formerly of the Elroy area passed away Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, at the Senior Life Center in Reedsburg.
She was born to Paul and Glen (Tompkins) Zirk on Aug. 14, 1925, in Glendale Township, Monroe County, where she grew to adulthood and graduated from Kendall High School.
Frieda was united in marriage to Merlyn L. Petersen on April 15, 1944, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in rural Elroy, where they were members until it closed in 1986.
Merlyn and Frieda farmed for many years in the Kendall area. After retirement, they loved to travel and spent 18 years in the winter months in McAllen, Texas, where they square danced, played cards and attended jam sessions.
Merlyn enjoyed woodcarving, and Frieda loved to oil paint, crochet and work on genealogy. She was a project leader for more than 30 years with Happy Farmer 4-H Club and belonged to Helpful Homemakers.
She worked at the Mauston Garment Factory and as a nurse’s aide in the Hillsboro and Elroy area for Home Health.
She was an active member of the Reedsburg Ridgeview Community, playing games and cards and attending the book club and enjoying the coffee clutches and ladies’ luncheons.
Survivors include one son, Neilan (Dar) of Kendall; two daughters, Karen (Dave) Edens of Babcock, Wis., and Dixie (Bob) Fusch of Reedsburg; 10 grandchildren, Randy (Tammy) Fusch, Amy (John) Meyer, Lisa Crary, Becky Petersen, Daniel Petersen, Dan Reber, Dawn (DJ) Firkus, Nicole (Dan) Sullivan, Christopher Petersen and Amanda Petersen; and 12 great-grandchildren. She is further survived by sister, Jo Ann Pasch; her brothers, Rodney, Stanley, Carl and David Zirk; and her sister-in-law, Betty Jean Zirk.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Merlyn, on Jan. 14, 2010; her parents; one son, Darrell; a grandson-in-law, Jeff Crary; one sister, Shirley Amberg; and two brothers, Donald and Robert Zirk.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at the Picha Funeral Home in Elroy. Burial will be in the St. Luke’s Lutheran Cemetery in rural Elroy. Friends may call at the Picha Funeral Home in Elroy on Friday from 10–11 a.m. Memorials are preferred to the Reedsburg Senior Life Center. For online information, go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com.
