Esther Marcella Asbe Petersen
PETERSEN, ASBE, ELIASON, BUSCH, BEIM, SHOOP, KUECK, MANUEL, SWEAT
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 3/25/2025 at 09:09:08
Esther Marcella Asbe Petersen passed away March 14, 2025, at Briarwood Health Care Center in Iowa City, Iowa, at nearly 102 years of age.
Her funeral will be at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 123 East Market Street, Iowa City, Iowa, at 11:00am on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00-11:00am. A luncheon will follow the service. Interment will be at a later date in the Clear Lake Cemetery. Arrangements are with Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service.
Esther was born May 25, 1923, in Mason City, Iowa, to Henry A. and Ida Elizabeth (Eliason) Asbe. She married Carl Robert (Bob) Petersen on June 10, 1944, in Charles City, Iowa.
Survivors include Esther’s daughter, Julie Busch (Douglas) of Iowa City; two grandchildren, Amy Busch Beim (Tucker) of Menlo Park, California, and Andrew Busch (Katina) of Bettendorf; and five great grandchildren, Lucas, James, & Maggie Busch and Mariah & Lauren Beim. Esther is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, five sisters (Luella Shoop, Doris Kueck, Iona Manuel, Norma Jean Sweat, and Gladys Asbe), and two brothers (Donald Asbe and Robert Asbe).
Esther lived in Kensett, Iowa, until 1937 when her blacksmith father passed away. Her family moved to Clear Lake, Iowa, where she graduated from high school in 1940. After marrying Bob in 1944, they settled in Mason City, Iowa. Esther was a homemaker and a talented seamstress. She loved reading nonfiction historical and biographical books about the presidents and events in our country. She also loved flower gardening. Bob was transferred as beef manager for Armour Foods and later Conagra Foods to Memphis, Tennessee, and then later to Louisville, Kentucky. After retirement, Bob and Esther relocated to Iowa City to be close to their daughter and family. Esther was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City. On June 10, 2014, Esther and Bob celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Esther lived a life centered around her family and her faith. She was a devoted wife and a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved being called Besta. Everyone who knew her, loved her!
Esther lived in her own condo until four months before her passing. Her family thanks both Melrose Meadows Assisted Living and Briarwood Health Care Center for their excellent care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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