Charles Petersen

Charles Louis Petersen, 83, of Onawa, Iowa died peacefully, surrounded by family, on August 21, 2025, at his daughter’s home in Syracuse, Nebraska after a diagnosis of Stage 4 liver cancer. Charles was born on December 5, 1941, near Salix, Iowa, to Louis and Eileen (Thorp) Petersen. 

Charles will be honored with a private, family burial service as he wished. The service will be held at a later date at the Onawa Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Charles was raised on the farm outside of Salix and graduated as valedictorian of his class. Shortly after graduation, Charles met Joan Belfrage on a blind date. They dated all throughout college. Joan transferred from the University of Iowa to the University of South Dakota to be with Charles. Charles and Joan married on June 5, 1964, and began teaching at Mapleton, Iowa, where Charles taught high school English. Charles and Joan had two children, Ruth and Sarah.

While teaching, Charles was invited to change careers and become a florist. He and Joan were co-owners of the Mapleton Greenhouse and Onawa Florist. In 1979, Charles and Joan moved to Onawa, Iowa as they became caretakers of the Murphy House (a three-story Victorian home built in 1881) for ten years. Charles took sole ownership of the Onawa Florist, Inc., and ran it for almost fifty-one years until January of 2021, when he retired. He also designed and created beautiful gardens at both the Murphy House and his final home of thirty-six years. Charles created beauty for countless souls through his designing of flowers, as well as the poetry, sermons, and lyrics he wrote. He had a poem published as lyrics for the music, “Lift Me”, composed by his daughter-in-law, Sherry Blevins. Charles was extremely proud of his daughters, his daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and his two grandchildren with whom he got to visit quite often in the last decade. Charles’ life song was “It is Well with My Soul” and sang it often as it carried him throughout his years.

For twenty-four years, Charles served on the Burgess Health Center hospital board. He also was an active member of the Onawa United Methodist Church and Whiting First Congregational Church of Christ.

Charles is survived by children; Ruth Petersen (Sherry Blevins) of Huntersville, North Carolina; Sarah (Nicholas) Cordray of Syracuse, Nebraska; grandchildren, Nathanial and Samantha Cordray of Syracuse, Nebraska; his housemate and dear friend, Marty Petersen; as well as many in-laws, nieces and nephews; and countless lives he touched over the years.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan (Belfrage) Petersen; his parents, Louis and Eileen Petersen; parents-in-law, John and Helen Belfrage; and his brother, Lawrence “Pete” Petersen.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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