(Carol) Elaine Petersen

(Carol) Elaine Petersen, age 81, passed away peacefully February 11, 2022, at Esprit Whispering Ridge in Omaha, NE. A Memorial Service and Art Show of Elaine Petersen's works will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2022 from 1-4 PM at Grace Lutheran Church in Central City, NE with Pastor Ruth Boetcher. The Memorial Service will begin at 2 PM. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Elaine was born July 2, 1940, in Colorado Springs, CO to H. Clyde and Ruby M. (Dougan) Redinger. In her teen years, she spent time working at her father’s pharmacy after school and enjoyed roller dancing and the competitions. She graduated from Colorado Springs High School in 1958 and Blair Business College in 1959. She worked as a secretary for the Pikes Peak Humane Society, and met her future husband, Marx C. Petersen at a music camp that same year. They married in 1960 and returned to the farm where Marx was raised, just north of Central City, NE. Elaine was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1981 and lived with the debilitating disease all her life. She graduated with a BFA in Art from Kearney State College in 1984 and was selected in 1987 to be a part of NYC’s National Multiple Sclerosis Society ‘Project Rembrandt’ where five pieces of her art were chosen to be on display. She went on to receive her MA in Education in 1991 from Kearney State College. She spent most of her life creating beauty: by using her art, raising animals on the farm, or developing ideas for different projects for different groups. Her love of animals was evident throughout her life. Elaine’s faith in Jesus was a living example of her favorite Bible verses found in Psalm 23. She will be greatly missed, but she is in a better place. Elaine is survived by her four children and their spouses Dawn (Mark) Fountain of Omaha, NE; Paul (Mary Schoen) Petersen of Austin, TX; Carla (Necmettin) Karakas and Kari (Charles) Birnley, both of Lincoln, NE; grandchildren Greg (Chris) Fountain, Jordan Fountain, Carol Petersen, Nathan Petersen, Cal Birnley, and Kate Birnley. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Paul W. Redinger, and Marx Petersen. Please join us in celebrating her life. Memorial donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

(Carol) Elaine Petersen

July 2, 1940 - February 11, 2022