Cathy Jo Petersen

   Cathy Jo (Fear) Petersen was born on May 17th, 1958 to Dawain and Joan (Fick) Fear in Ames, Iowa. She attended school in Spencer, Iowa and graduated from Spencer High School in 1976. After high school Cathy attended Iowa State University where she obtained a degree in English and Psychology, graduating in 1980.

   She married James Petersen on August 9, 1980. They were blessed with one precious daughter Catelyn Nicole. After living in Iowa for much of her early life Cathy called Lincoln, Nebraska home for many years. Although she lived in Nebraska, you could never take the Iowa State Cyclone out of her. Cathy enjoyed all things Disney, her many cats throughout the years, but her greatest joy of all was spending time with her family; especially her grandchildren. She was the world’s best Nana!

   Cathy worked for a doctor in Iowa before moving to Lincoln and helping two doctors open a medical practice now known as Complete Children’s Health. Cathy dedicated 27 years to CCH as a medical biller and team leader. Cathy retired from CCH on January 29, 2025.

   On July 18th, 2025, after battling cancer on and off for 20 years, Cathy departed this life surrounded by her family. She is preceded in death by her loving parents Dawain and Joan Fear.

   She is survived by her daughter, Catelyn (Petersen) Meysenburg and her husband, Nick, of Omaha, Nebraska; her brother, Craig and his wife, Debbie, of West Des Moines, Iowa; her nephews: Ryan Fear and his wife, Emily, and their daughter, Adeline, of Mountlake Terrace, Washington, Michael Fear and his fiance, Matisse, of Urbandale, Iowa and her grandchildren: Beaudin, Hadley and Baby Meysenburg. 

  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made in Cathy’s memory to the American Cancer Society.