Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
A memorial service for Kenneth P. Petersen was held Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at the Hartley Funeral Home in Hartley. Pastor Chris Nitzel officiated. Interment was Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.
Kenneth Peter "Kenny Pete" Petersen was born in Hartley on Oct. 16, 1945, to Adolf and Emmy (Bern) Petersen. His siblings consisted of two older sisters: Mary Lou Chochon (deceased) and Charlotte Roland (Windsor, Colo.); and two younger brothers: Lester and Arthur (both deceased).
Kenny was married to Cheryl (Kern) for 30 years and together they had three children: Michele, Mathew and Amanda. The majority of Kenny's life was spent on the farm south of Hartley. He was the recipient of the FFA "American Farmer of the Year Award" and was a member of the O'Brien County Pork Producers as well as the Iowa Pork Producers, which blessed him with many lifelong friendships.
Kenny and Cheryl opened Pete's Steakhouse in Hartley in 1986. Kenny had a passion for pork and won the "Taste of Elegance" award, and in 1993 the "National Pork Restaurant of the Year" award. After retiring from Pete's, he continued to work in the restaurant business in the company of good friends in the Des Moines area and was active with the Iowa Restaurant Association where he continued to promote pork.
Kenny was strong in his Lutheran faith, serving as Sunday school superintendent at St Paul's in Hartley and president of Iowa District West Walther League, spending a great deal of time at Camp Okoboji. He also volunteered as a member of the hospitality team at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.
Outside of the restaurant, Kenny enjoyed gardening, building Legos and model trains, photography, and just being together with his children and granddaughters.
Kenny passed away in Des Moines on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, at the age of 78. He is survived by his daughter, Michele and spouse, John Vaubel, and granddog, Gia, of Okoboji; his son, Mathew and spouse, Laurinda (Denny), and their children: Madelyn, of Washington, D.C., and Mollie, of Elkhorn, Neb.; and daughter, Amanda and spouse, Greg Lyness, and their children: Lydia, Meredith and Everleigh, of Ankeny; his sister, Charlotte Roland; nephews, nieces, and a host of wonderful friends.
A memorial will be made in Kenny's name to NAMI-Iowa Chapter (National Alliance on Mental Illness) at NAMIiowa.org.
