Irene L. Petersen, 90, of Bartlett, Illinois passed away on Friday, September 2, 2016, at Victory Centre Assisted Living Facility.  She was born March 16, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois to Ole and Ida (Larsen) Knutson.  On May 31, 1947 she married Robert (Bob) E. Petersen at Grace Lutheran Church in Elmwood Park, Illinois.  He preceded her in death on March 6, 1975.

Irene was born at home on Fairfield Avenue, in Chicago. She moved to Connecticut during the Depression and then to Sturgeon Bay as a young girl.  Her family moved to Chicago after the World’s Fair where she grew up and attended grammar school and high school.  She met Bob at the Sunday night dance clubs.  They married and brought up three children.  Irene worked at Robert Hall Clothing Store, Skrudlund Photo and lastly at Bethesda Lutheran Home until her retirement when she moved back to Sturgeon Bay to be with her parents.

Irene was active in the choir at Grace Lutheran and Hainesville Lutheran Church and she enjoyed her time with the Women of ELCA.  She also enjoyed crocheting afghans for her family and reading books. 

Survivors include three children, Bob (Leslie) Petersen, Crystal Lake, Illinois; Linda (Dan) Ciccone, Bartlett, Illinois; and Ron (Aileen) Petersen, Union, Illinois;  8 grandchildren, Mark (Beth) Petersen, Evansville, Indiana; Nicole (Patrick) Gora, Rochester, Minnesota; Bob (Jennifer) Ciccone, Arlington Heights, Illinois; Kris (Starrin) Petersen, Chicago, Illinois; Michael (Casey) Ciccone, Chicago, Illinois; Danny Ciccone, Chicago, Illinois; Crystina Petersen, Woodstock, Illinoi;, Michelle (Cameron) Bauman, Marengo, Illinois; 16 great-grandchildren, Forrest, Kyle, Riley, Grace, Nolan, Caroline, Patrick, William, Abigail, Aubrey, Madison, Shelby, Payton, Mason, Ehlery and Calder.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister (Grace Hanstad) and daughter-in-law (Cathy Petersen).

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 at Hainesville Lutheran Church with burial in Hainesville Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Forbes Funeral Home on Sunday, Sept. 11 from 3-7:00 pm and at the church on Monday from 9:30 am until the time of service.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Hainesville Church in her memory.

Thank you to the staff at Victory Centre of Bartlett and to Comfort Hospice for their wonderful care.  

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