Myrle Peterson, age 94, of Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Albert City, Iowa went to be with the Lord Saturday, March 5, 2016 at Hospice House in Des Moines.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Albert City. Burial will follow in the Fairfield Township Cemetery in Albert City. Visitation will take place Friday, March 18, 2016 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of the arrangements.

Myrle was born on Nov. 17, 1921, in Albert City to Emmanuel and Agnes (Larson) Peterson. He was the first of their six children and learned to farm from his father. He graduated from Albert City High School and attended North Park College in Chicago before returning to Albert City to farm. He married Wanita Black on Sept. 18, 1954. Together, they raised five children. As a faithful and devoted husband and father, he worked diligently to provide for his family as well as for others in need. His children fondly remember evenings of play, bedtime stories and their father singing to them. His loving support has followed them throughout their lives, providing an exemplary model of skillful living.

A faithful member of Evangelical Covenant Church, and most recently Urban Heights Covenant Church, he shared his time and talents by ministering in a variety of ways. He enjoyed his siblings and their annual reunions through the years. He tenderly cared for his wife in her battle with cancer until she passed away on Aug. 18, 1988. During this time, he phased out of farming and retired.

On July 4, 1992, he married LaVerna Larson, adding her four children and their families to his own. They settled in Des Moines and enjoyed 24 years of marriage, traveling here and abroad, sharing their expanded family, eagerly celebrating graduations, weddings, holidays and new babies.

Myrle is survived by his wife, LaVerna of Urbandale; five children, Sidney (Janet) Peterson, of Albert City, Naomi (Gregg) Lovin, of Nevada, Stanley (Carol) Peterson, of Albert City, Rebecca (Robert) Shuka, of Ames, and Angela (Kevin) Geisler of Cohasset, Minn.; three stepchildren, Paul (Kristi) Larson of Mansfield, Ohio, Dale (Christy) Larson of Naperville, Illinois, Ruth (Wayne) Belner of Johnston, and son-in-law Michael (Lois) Williams of Berkeley Heights, N.J.; 35 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; five siblings, Maurice (Joyce) Peterson, of Albert City, Glenn Peterson, of Sherman, Texas, Kenneth (Peg) Peterson, of Moneta, Va., Norma Loving, of Albert City, and Eunice Montgomery, of Stuttgart, Ark.; and 24 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Wanita; one step-daughter, Lois; and one granddaughter, Amanda.

Myrle will be remembered as a generous man of steadfast character whose life demonstrates the blessing of loving and serving a faithful and merciful God.

Memorial contributions may be made to his church or Gideon's International.

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