Carol A. Petersen

Carol Ann Petersen, 80, of Reinbeck, Iowa, passed away on July 22, 2026, under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital, after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Reinbeck. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday July 27, 2026 at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Reinbeck; burial to follow at the Reinbeck Cemetery. Memorials may be directed in Carol’s name to The Grundy County Memorial Hospital Foundation, Cedar Valley Hospice or St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church.

Carol was born on January 20, 1946, to John and Leola (Krantz) Beenken. She was raised in Grundy Center, worked at Manly Drug and graduated from Grundy Center High School with the Class of 1964. On August 21, 1965, she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart Mike Petersen. They made their home in Reinbeck, where they welcomed their daughter Chris. Carol soon began a 46-year career in banking, starting as a teller, and retiring as a Human Resources Director. Carol was an extraordinary example of a working wife and mother.

Carol was a lifelong member of the Holy Family Parish. She loved singing in the church choir and serving on the finance committee. Her faith was so important to her, living it out through a life of service, hard work and love. She was also active in the Reinbeck community, serving on various boards and committees. In 2002, Mike built one final house - a home for he and Carol on an acreage outside of Reinbeck. There they spent the last chapter of their life together doing what they loved - gardening.

Carol loved to crochet and read, but her greatest joy in life was spending time and caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She spent countless hours having sleepovers, changing diapers and rocking babies for “Carol Naps”.

Carol is survived by her daughter Chris (Scott) Schildroth, granddaughters Jill (Ryan) Collins and Jenny (Shane) Schultz, great grandchildren Colt, Emmie and Kenna Collins, Michael Schultz and Baby Schultz due in January, sister Betty (Scott Parker) Beenken, brother-in-law and sister-in-law John and Carol D. Petersen, sisters-in-law Marilyn Beenken, Arlene Beenken and Pat Blakemore, and several nieces and nephews. Carol was preceded in death by her husband Mike of 56 years, her parents, her brothers George and Jack, and a sister Donna in infancy, her sister-in-law Karol Storjohann, and her brothers-in-law Dale Storjohann and Mike Blakemore.

Carol’s family would like to thank the amazing caregivers and staff at Grundy County Memorial Hospital and Cedar Valley Hospice for the extraordinary care they gave her.