Karline Petersen, 91, died Sunday, April 6, 2008 at Hacienda Rehabilitation and Care Center in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Karline and her twin sister, Pauline were born at the family home south of Juda, Wisconsin, on December 9, 1916, the daughters of Fred and Louise (Brand) Affolter. They were the first children born to the Affolter's after they came to America from Switzerland in 1914. In 1923, they became the foster daughters of G.B. and Elizabeth Lahr. The Lahr's loved the girls as their own and the twins treated them as parents until the Lahr's passed away in the mid 1950's.
Karline was a basketball cheerleader and graduated Valedictorian of the 1935 class at Juda High School. She was the bookkeeper for The Lahr Department Store in Juda, Wisconsin. On November 23, 1935, Karline married LeRoy Petersen in Madison, Wisconsin. They farmed the Lahr Farm and later at a larger farm a few miles south of Juda. Karline enjoyed sewing, planting flowers and spending time with her twin sister. She taught Sunday School, Bible School and sang in the choir of her church.
In March of 1976, they sold their farm and retired to Sierra Vista, Arizona. Karline became active in an art club that met weekly to paint pictures in oil and acrylic. In 1988 Karline entered her oil painting entitled "Yucca - Mule Mountain Background" in the first Cochise County Perspective, an art show sponsored by the Huachuca Art Association. Karline was awarded the Best Amateur Artist for this picture. Her home has many of her pictures on display and she also gave many to her family members. In August 2000, Karline and her granddaughter, Wendy traveled to Switzerland to visit her parent's birthplace. She was a member of the Sierra Vista United Methodist Church, The Niomi Circle and Happy Achers until her health prevented her from attending.
Survivors include two daughters, Tova (Phillip) Bedolla of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Yvonne (Ted) Ogier of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; three grandsons, Cory (Karen) Ogier of Newton, Iowa, Lance (Danielle) Bedolla of Carlsbad, California, Aaron (Deddie) Bedolla of Mesa, Arizona; one granddaughter, Wendy (Manish) Tandon of Framingham, Massachusetts; four great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters; one sister, Sophie (Robert) Kleckler of McConnell, Illinois; one sister-in-law, Margrit Affolter of Monroe, Wisconsin; many nieces and nephews; and her dear friend, Ward Conover of Sierra Vista.
She was preceded in death by her foster parents, parents, an infant son, Benjamin LeRoy on April 3, 1937 and her husband, LeRoy on August 7, 1993; three brothers, Paul, John and Ed Affolter; and seven sisters, Gertrude Anderson, Margaret Stuessy, Mabel Searles, Alice Jones, Marie Barry, Rose Lindholm and Pauline Jones.
A memorial service to honor Karline will be held at a later date with interment at the Mount Vernon Cemetery, Juda, Wisconsin.
Arrangements are by the Hatfield Funeral Home, Sierra Vista, Ariz.
Karline and her twin sister, Pauline were born at the family home south of Juda, Wisconsin, on December 9, 1916, the daughters of Fred and Louise (Brand) Affolter. They were the first children born to the Affolter's after they came to America from Switzerland in 1914. In 1923, they became the foster daughters of G.B. and Elizabeth Lahr. The Lahr's loved the girls as their own and the twins treated them as parents until the Lahr's passed away in the mid 1950's.
Karline was a basketball cheerleader and graduated Valedictorian of the 1935 class at Juda High School. She was the bookkeeper for The Lahr Department Store in Juda, Wisconsin. On November 23, 1935, Karline married LeRoy Petersen in Madison, Wisconsin. They farmed the Lahr Farm and later at a larger farm a few miles south of Juda. Karline enjoyed sewing, planting flowers and spending time with her twin sister. She taught Sunday School, Bible School and sang in the choir of her church.
In March of 1976, they sold their farm and retired to Sierra Vista, Arizona. Karline became active in an art club that met weekly to paint pictures in oil and acrylic. In 1988 Karline entered her oil painting entitled "Yucca - Mule Mountain Background" in the first Cochise County Perspective, an art show sponsored by the Huachuca Art Association. Karline was awarded the Best Amateur Artist for this picture. Her home has many of her pictures on display and she also gave many to her family members. In August 2000, Karline and her granddaughter, Wendy traveled to Switzerland to visit her parent's birthplace. She was a member of the Sierra Vista United Methodist Church, The Niomi Circle and Happy Achers until her health prevented her from attending.
Survivors include two daughters, Tova (Phillip) Bedolla of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Yvonne (Ted) Ogier of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; three grandsons, Cory (Karen) Ogier of Newton, Iowa, Lance (Danielle) Bedolla of Carlsbad, California, Aaron (Deddie) Bedolla of Mesa, Arizona; one granddaughter, Wendy (Manish) Tandon of Framingham, Massachusetts; four great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters; one sister, Sophie (Robert) Kleckler of McConnell, Illinois; one sister-in-law, Margrit Affolter of Monroe, Wisconsin; many nieces and nephews; and her dear friend, Ward Conover of Sierra Vista.
She was preceded in death by her foster parents, parents, an infant son, Benjamin LeRoy on April 3, 1937 and her husband, LeRoy on August 7, 1993; three brothers, Paul, John and Ed Affolter; and seven sisters, Gertrude Anderson, Margaret Stuessy, Mabel Searles, Alice Jones, Marie Barry, Rose Lindholm and Pauline Jones.
A memorial service to honor Karline will be held at a later date with interment at the Mount Vernon Cemetery, Juda, Wisconsin.
Arrangements are by the Hatfield Funeral Home, Sierra Vista, Ariz.