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Gail Jeanne <I>Irwin</I> Petersen

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Gail Jeanne Irwin Petersen

Birth
Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa, USA
Death
15 May 2011 (aged 60)
Burial
Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa, USA Add to Map
Plot
I 28/6
Memorial ID
View Source
Gail Jeanne Irwin Petersen died on May 15, 2011 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Iowa City, Iowa on April 9, 1951 to Dr. Jesse and Betty Irwin. She received a B.A. from the University of Iowa in 1972, her M.A. in 1988 and her Ph.D. in 1995 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Comparative Literature. She married Kim P. Petersen on a cold January 6, 1973 in Iowa City. They had a wonderful 38 years of married life and were blessed with the birth of their son, Matthew Todd on October 31, 1974; his marriage to a wonderful daughter-in-law, Carrie Greenquist on May 20, 1995 and the birth of a delightful granddaughter, Ellen on June 28, 2002.

Gail was a teacher of English and Humanities and was Director of Studies at St. Katherine's/St. Mark's School in Bettendorf, Iowa. She was later on the faculty of the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for four years. After receiving her Ph.D. she taught English and was the English Department Chair and Drama Director at Belleville High School, in Belleville, WI.

In 1995 Gail and Kim started their own company, ElderAdvocates, Inc., a consulting company for persons with dementia and their caregivers. She was the Cognitive Specialist in the South Central Wisconsin Memory Diagnostic Center and helped Kim provide dementia diagnoses and management. During this time she also developed many training manuals and products. Gail and Kim gave numerous lectures, workshops and trainings. They helped establish 16 memory diagnostic centers throughout the U.S. Gail worked closely with the Alzheimer's and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin.

Gail was also an accomplished quilter, gardener, and cook. She had a true passion for reading. Gail loved to open her home to friends and family and was a gracious hostess. She especially loved to pass on her needle, gardening and cooking skills to her granddaughter. She loved drama and was a continual supporter of American Players Theater.

She is survived by her husband, Kim; her son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Carrie; her granddaughter Ellie; her mother, Betty Irwin and her aunt, Jean Johnson. She was preceded in death by her father, Jesse Irwin and her grandparents.

A memorial service and visitation will be held at the Richardson-Stafford Funeral Home in Spring Green on Friday May 20, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests that any donations be made to the Alzheimer's and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, 517 North Segoe Rd., Suite 301 Madison, WI 53705. Graveside memorial services will be held June 10 at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City with the Reverend George Paterson officiating.

The family wants to express their sincere thanks to Dr. Michael Huie and staff at the Oncology Department at Meriter Hospital. The family also wants to thank the staff at the Don and Marilyn Anderson Hospice Home in Fitchburg for making Gail's last days peaceful, comfortable and dignified.
From: Iowa City Press-Citizen.com, May 17 & June 4, 2011
Gail Jeanne Irwin Petersen died on May 15, 2011 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Iowa City, Iowa on April 9, 1951 to Dr. Jesse and Betty Irwin. She received a B.A. from the University of Iowa in 1972, her M.A. in 1988 and her Ph.D. in 1995 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Comparative Literature. She married Kim P. Petersen on a cold January 6, 1973 in Iowa City. They had a wonderful 38 years of married life and were blessed with the birth of their son, Matthew Todd on October 31, 1974; his marriage to a wonderful daughter-in-law, Carrie Greenquist on May 20, 1995 and the birth of a delightful granddaughter, Ellen on June 28, 2002.

Gail was a teacher of English and Humanities and was Director of Studies at St. Katherine's/St. Mark's School in Bettendorf, Iowa. She was later on the faculty of the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for four years. After receiving her Ph.D. she taught English and was the English Department Chair and Drama Director at Belleville High School, in Belleville, WI.

In 1995 Gail and Kim started their own company, ElderAdvocates, Inc., a consulting company for persons with dementia and their caregivers. She was the Cognitive Specialist in the South Central Wisconsin Memory Diagnostic Center and helped Kim provide dementia diagnoses and management. During this time she also developed many training manuals and products. Gail and Kim gave numerous lectures, workshops and trainings. They helped establish 16 memory diagnostic centers throughout the U.S. Gail worked closely with the Alzheimer's and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin.

Gail was also an accomplished quilter, gardener, and cook. She had a true passion for reading. Gail loved to open her home to friends and family and was a gracious hostess. She especially loved to pass on her needle, gardening and cooking skills to her granddaughter. She loved drama and was a continual supporter of American Players Theater.

She is survived by her husband, Kim; her son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Carrie; her granddaughter Ellie; her mother, Betty Irwin and her aunt, Jean Johnson. She was preceded in death by her father, Jesse Irwin and her grandparents.

A memorial service and visitation will be held at the Richardson-Stafford Funeral Home in Spring Green on Friday May 20, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests that any donations be made to the Alzheimer's and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, 517 North Segoe Rd., Suite 301 Madison, WI 53705. Graveside memorial services will be held June 10 at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City with the Reverend George Paterson officiating.

The family wants to express their sincere thanks to Dr. Michael Huie and staff at the Oncology Department at Meriter Hospital. The family also wants to thank the staff at the Don and Marilyn Anderson Hospice Home in Fitchburg for making Gail's last days peaceful, comfortable and dignified.
From: Iowa City Press-Citizen.com, May 17 & June 4, 2011


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  • Created by: Sue
  • Added: May 25, 2011
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70389004/gail_jeanne-petersen: accessed ), memorial page for Gail Jeanne Irwin Petersen (9 Apr 1951–15 May 2011), Find a Grave Memorial ID 70389004, citing Memory Gardens Cemetery, Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa, USA; Maintained by Sue (contributor 47214540).