Jill Marie Petermeier

Jill Marie Petermeier, 52, of Baxter, died peacefully Feb. 8, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. A memorial service was at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. Memorials to the Star Center at Blank Children’s Hospital may be left at the funeral home.

Jill was born Sept. 5, 1965, in Cherokee, to Jim and Jeanne (Frahm) Clausen. She grew up on a farm northwest of Holstein, and graduated from Galva-Holstein High School in 1984.

Following graduation she attended St. Luke’s School of Nursing, graduating in 1987. She had a passion for caring for children and her first nursing job was in Mesa, Ariz. She then moved back to Des Moines, to further her nursing career at Blank Children’s Hospital. She spent the next 30 years sharing her gift of helping children and truly loved her job at the Regional Child Protection Center/STAR Center.

Jill was united in marriage Feb. 17, 1990, to Carey Wayne Petermeier, after meeting on a blind date. The couple was blessed with three children, Mackenzie Rae, Megan Marie and Cameron Nathanial. They also opened their home to many foster children over the yeas. Jill touched the lives of every child who walked through the door. As a dedicated Cyclone fanatic, you could find her most Saturdays in the fall in Ames, doing a “Power Surge” before an epic Iowa State win.

Jill was a beautiful woman and a hardworking nurse. More than anything she cherished spending time with her “tribe.” She was happiest when her house was filled with her extended family. Her proudest title was “Mamma Jill.”

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 28 years, Carey Petermeier of Baxter; children, Mackenzie Petermeier (Spencer Nady) of Nevada, Megan (Stephen) Van Beek of Baxter and Cameron Petermeier of Baxter; mother, Jeanne Clausen of Holstein; her siblings, Jim Clausen of Baxter, Jerri (Jeff) Downs of Ames and Joni Voss of Holstein; sibling-in-laws, Deb (Randy) Krampe of Baxter and Craig (Virginia) Petermeier of Baxter; her nieces and nephews, Danielle (Jason) Martin, Chase (Jason) Ludwig, Dylan, Maddy and Camden Clausen, Gavin (Katie) Downs, Alex (Jessica) Downs, Jamison (Madeline) Voss, Courtnie (Brock) Voss, Kyle (Abbey) Krampe, Lindsay (Colby) Black and JC Petermeier; several special great-nieces and nephews; and her large extended family. She was preceded in death by her father, Jim Clausen; and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Iva “Penny” and Kenneth Petermeier.