CLEAR LAKE — Sharon Kay (Miller) Petersen, 85, a longtime Clear Lake resident whose home was a gathering place for family, friends and unforgettable Sunday fried chicken dinners, passed away Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Westview Care Center in Indianola. Her life was marked by 66 years of marriage, devotion to her children and grandchildren, and the simple pleasures of sharing good food and conversation with those she loved.
Visitation will be held Sunday, October 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Overton Funeral Home, 501 W. Ashland Avenue in Indianola. A second visitation will take place Tuesday, October 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 First Avenue North in Clear Lake.
A celebration of Sharon’s life will be held Wednesday, October 21, at 10:30 a.m. at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel in Clear Lake, with a gathering beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Clear Lake Municipal Cemetery.
Born August 30, 1941, in Mason City, Sharon grew up in North Iowa and graduated from Clear Lake High School. Her life took a memorable turn at age 18 when she met a young man named Allan Petersen.
As the family tells it, their romance began with a rather unconventional introduction: Sharon, still underage, asked Allan to buy her some alcohol for an evening out.
That encounter led to a courtship, an engagement and eventually a marriage that would last more than six decades.
Sharon and Allan were married August 16, 1960, beginning a partnership that would carry them through 66 years of family life, countless memories and a shared home in Clear Lake.
The couple raised three children, Lisa, Jeff and Tracey. Sharon devoted her early years of motherhood to caring for their family at home. As the children grew older, she returned to the workforce, holding positions in manufacturing and retail before spending several years as an administrative assistant at a State Farm insurance agency.
Although she worked in several different fields, some of Sharon’s most cherished contributions took place around the family dinner table.
She was an enthusiastic cook and baker who loved welcoming relatives and friends into her home. Her Sunday fried chicken dinners became a particular favorite, bringing people together for good food, conversation and the warmth of family tradition.
Sharon also enjoyed bowling, playing bridge and reading. She treasured her coffee visits with friends and relatives, appreciating the chance to catch up, share stories and enjoy one another’s company.
For most of their married life, Sharon and Allan called Clear Lake home. In 2025, they moved to Indianola to be closer to family, beginning a new chapter after more than six decades in the community where they had built their life together.
Their marriage, which began with a humorous chance encounter in their younger years, remained a defining part of Sharon’s life. Together, they watched their family grow to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren, creating generations of memories rooted in the home and family they built.
Sharon is survived by her husband, Allan Petersen; children Lisa (Jim) Engstrom, Jeff (Mary) Petersen and Tracey (Craig) Stevens; grandchildren Alex (Lindsay), Jessica (Adam), Megan (Jimmy), Joshua and Nicholas (Asa); and great-grandchildren Jude, Dahlia, Grace, Nora, Benjamin, Henry and Emmy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, LeRoy and Florence Miller; sister Susan (Terry) Stallman; and brother Donald Miller.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family, who will determine a memorial designation at a later date.
Family and friends may share condolences and find additional service information through Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel’s online tribute to Sharon Kay Petersen.
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