Juanita G. Peterson

Juanita Grace Haburn Peterson was born September 4, 1925 to Lloyd E. and Grace J. (Combes) Haburn on a farm near Nemaha, Iowa. Her childhood was spent in rural NW Iowa and southern Minnesota. She graduated from Excelsior High School in 1943 and after attending summer school at Buena Vista College, she taught in a one room school, Lakeville Twp No. 3. She later finished her education degree at Buena Vista in 1977. Her teaching career also included North Superior Consolidated School and substitute and reading teacher in the Spencer Community Schools, retiring in 1993, after teaching a total of 32 years. Juanita married Wayne W. Peterson, her one and only love, on August 8, 1945. To this union was born two children, Grace and Joel. The Peterson family thoroughly loved being together and sharing experiences with one another. Wayne and Juanita lived on farms near Jackson, MN, and Spirit Lake, Lake Park, and Spencer, IA before moving to Spencer in 1967. The most precious thing in Juanita's life was serving Jesus Christ. After making a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior at the age of 12, she served Him in many phases of church work. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Spencer, IA for over 70 years and served there as deaconess, Sunday School teacher, and committee member on various committees. Making divinity, baking breads, cookies, and cakes to enter at the Clay County Fair was an annual tradition. Creating recipes to enter cooking contests furthered her culinary adventures. She won 2nd prize at the National Egg Cooking Contest (1962) and 5th place at the National Chicken Cooking Contest (1964). Juanita also enjoyed reading books to little ones, hosting friends and family for meals, attending concerts and programs, especially those which included her own children, and writing letters and cards to encourage friends, family, and missionaries. With gratefulness and peace in her heart for God's ever present help (Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.), Juanita went to be with Jesus in her eternal home on October 17, 2016. Juanita is survived by her children, Grace Jolene (Altoona, IA) and Joel Wayne (Scottsdale, AZ), her brother, William (Esther) Haburn (Salem, OR), sisters-in-law LaVonne Haburn (Alta, IA) and Angela Peterson (Lancaster, SC), aunt Fern Combes (Storm Lake, IA), numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Preceding her in death are her parents Lloyd and Grace, her husband, Wayne W. Peterson, 2 brothers Arnold (Genevieve) Haburn and Robert Haburn, 3 sisters Virginia (Cyril) Bundy, Joyce (Glen) Johnson, and Mary Lou (Wilford) Hovda.

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