Patricia Jean Esbeck, the daughter of Cecil Fritz and Henry Von Tersch, was born July 14, 1933, in Harlan, Iowa and passed away peacefully at her home in Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 91 years, 3 months, and 11 days.
Pat attended school at the Harlan Community School District until her junior year when she chose to marry the love of her life.
On December 10, 1950, she was united in marriage to Levi Petersen at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan and to this union four children were born. They farmed in Audubon and Shelby counties and when their youngest child started school, Pat began to work at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn where she remained until retirement.
Pat was blessed with nearly 25 years of marriage to Levi. After he passed away, she was lucky to find a second love, Robert Esbeck.
She enjoyed working as she was very proud of the fact that she served for 37 years at the nursing home. She was a devoted Christian and a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Throughout her lifetime she enjoyed going to car races, camping, vacations, dining out, gardening, canning, and planting numerous flowers. She could never plant enough petunias as they were her absolute favorite.
Family and friends meant everything to her. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as often as she could. She loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s school activities over the span of many years.
She also had a very special friend, Marilyn Nelson. They first met when Marilyn asked to join her for a cup of coffee after Pat and the family moved to the farm outside of Elk Horn. They were inseparable ever since and the two never had a dull moment together.
Pat is preceded in death by her parents Henry and Cecil Von Tersch, first husband Levi Petersen and second husband, Robert Esbeck, her siblings, several in-laws, grandchildren Christopher Petersen, Trisha Petersen, Kevin Marshall, Ricky Morehouse, and Annie Morehouse.
She is survived by her children, Patty Hogue, Randy (Debbie) Petersen, Tim Petersen, Lori (Dave) Gearheart. Her stepson, Dale Esbeck. Her grandchildren, Michelle Boken, Shannon Howard, Robin (Ricky) Morehouse, Nikayla (Matt) Wilmers, Cayla Martin, Michael (Angela) Petersen, Corey (Kady) Petersen, Alison Petersen, Kristine (Brandon) Webb, Lisa (Jake) Johnson. Great-Grandchildren, Paige (Johnathan) Boken, Jesse Boken, Reggy Morehouse, Erynn (Daniel) Julich, Tyler (Haylie) Julich, Kaylee Aughe, Brody Wilmers, Grayson Webb, Evelyn Wilmers, Tatum Webb, Madison Wilmers, Allison Johnson, Moxon Petersen. Her great-great-grandchildren, Dovankin Lower, Thomas Duncan, Sophia Lower. Her brother and sister-in-laws: Allen (Diane) Petersen, Larry (Dianna) Petersen, and Delores Petersen.
She will also be remembered by many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Visitation with the family will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 3:30 p.m., on Friday, November 1, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, IA. Pastor Loren Christensen will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, IA.
Funeral services are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic, IA.
