Janet Jean Petersen

Janet Jean Kinsey entered this world on May 9, 1918 at Omaha, NE, the third child born of Verna Vesta Petty and Herman Roy Kinsey. Janet entered the church triumphant at Lakewood, CO on December 5, 2010 AT 92 YEARS OF AGE. Her ashes will rest beside her husband at historic Bellevue Cemetery in Bellevue, NE. A memorial service and interment are being planned for a later date.

Janet was just 5 months old when her father died during the great influenza epidemic of 1918. Janet’s mother, now sole support of her 3 children, recruited a young cousin from Illinois to live with the family and care for the children while she worked. Janet grew up happily playing with neighborhood children on Stone Avenue in North Omaha and attending Miller Park Grade School.

As Janet finished grade school, the Great Depression left the family without an income. Loss of the home on Stone Avenue forced a move to rural Sarpy County where the family hoped to raise their own food. Janet enrolled at South High School in Omaha and walked the five miles to school daily.

In the fall of 1938, at a dance sponsored by the Sarpy County Democrats, Janet met local farmer, Arthur Peter Petersen. They were married on December 29, 1938 when they eloped to Lincoln, NE.

The newlyweds settled on Arthur’s farm in rural Bellevue and partnered that operation until Arthur retired and the land was sold in 1961. The couple then traveled extensively in Scandinavia, Europe, the British Isles, Mexico and Canada. Later they toured many countries of Asia and the South Pacific.

While raising four children, Janet was an able volunteer for the Girl Scouts serving as a troop leader and twice as Chair for the cookie sales fundraiser in the entire Omaha area. She was active in the Ladies Aid at the Avery Presbyterian Church and later at First Presbyterian in Bellevue. Other interests included The League of Women Voters and Democratic politics at all levels in Sarpy County, the state, and the nation. She helped with campaigns and worked at the polls counting votes long into the night many years before the voting machine. It was her great thrill to eventually be chosen as an alternate delegate and attending a National Democratic Convention.

In 1961 With Arthur retired, Janet returned to school and began a second career as an LPN, then RN, and eventually earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Bellevue University. She taught many years at Clarkson Hospital School of Nursing in Omaha until retirement in 1980.

In 1959 when Janet sought enrollment in LPN training, rules required a high school diploma for admittance. With a GED earned in night classes after WWII in hand, Janet appealed to the Governor. With his influence rules were updated and she was accepted. In the early 1960’s when she wanted to upgrade her training to RN, Janet again encountered resistance. At that time, nontraditional students were not accepted in RN training. Once again she appealed and was one of the first married grandmothers in NE to be graduated as a new Registered Nurse.

In 1974 when the NE Unicameral formed Metro Community College, Janet was appointed by Governor Exon to the Board of Directors and served as Vice Chair. In 1975, her interest in geriatric nursing gained her an appointment to serve on the NE Commission on Aging.

During her active retirement she was a frequent and avid bridge player and handcrafted many wonderful keepsakes for two generations of her family.

Janet was preceded in death by husband, Arthur in 1983, daughter Janet Jean Nieto, 2 grandchildren, and her brother and sister.

Survivors include daughter, VeeAnn Wright of Rockport, TX; sons, Arthur V. Petersen and Geri of Grand Lake, CO and Harold A. Petersen and Cynthia of Cheyenne, WY; *13 grandchildren, **25 great grandchildren, ***5 great great-grandchildren; nieces, Luann Carlson and Anina Romshek and nephew Michael L. Petersen in Colorado.

*Leonardo Petersen and Fe, Fayetteville, NC; David P. Nieto and Sue, Omaha, NE; Cheryl L. Stelzer and Scott, Omaha, NE; Steven H. Homolka and Xia, Shanghai, China; Robert P. Homolka and Luda, Downingtown, PA; Kevin L. Nieto and Monica, Omaha, NE; W. Curtiss Wright, Des Moines, IA; Jeanne L. Deremer and Mike, San Antonio, TX; Tyna S. Petersen, Denver, CO; Anine S. Allen, Bellevue, NE; Mindy L. Boston and Mark, Wilmington, NC; Melanie A. Underwood and Bruce, Denver, CO; Christopher L. Moore, Chicago IL.

**Casey R. Nieto, Cory Nieto, Callie C. Nieto, Nicholas C. Muchowicz, Eric M. Muchowicz, Ronald R. Nieto, Ashlee Nieto, Kevin L. Nieto, Jr., Liang L. Homolka, Paul A. Orlov, Harvey A. Homolka, W. Walker Wright, Hayden Wright, R. Jorden Starr, Stephen F. Starr, Wyatt C. Starr, Nicolas A. Allen, Cody M. Petersen, Kinsey Boston, Daniel J. Petersen, Melanie F. Petersen, Christopher A. Moore, Nathaniel E. Underwood, Megan F. Underwood, Matthew Stelzer

***Hannah Nieto, Marisa Nieto, Owen Muchowicz, Maddox Muchowicz, Beth Orlova