Clarence was born June 21, 1923 to Clarence and Ella (Schutt) Petersen on the family farm Southeast of Syracuse. He was a lifetime member of Christ Lutheran Church being baptized on August 14, 1923 by Pastor Niederwimmer and confirmed on April 10, 1938 by Pastor Haferman. He graduated from Dunbar High School in 1941. He and Dorothy Zahn were married at St. Johns United Church of Christ in Syracuse, NE. They lived on the family farm until he retired in 1986 and moved to Nebraska City in 1993. After retirement he enjoyed doing wood working and driving out to the country to check the crops. Clarence owned Petersen Const. for nearly 40 years doing soil conservation work throughout Southeast Nebraska. He was a member of LICA, Elks and Eagles of Nebraska City.

Clarence was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Ella, daughter Patti, brother Eldro and wife Caroline and their daughter Carol Ann. Sister Ruth Roos and husband Lyman, brother Alvin A. Petersen.

He is survived by wife Dorothy, son Randall (Joni) their children Amanda (Dan) Dutton Caleb and Noah and daughters; Rachel and Lindsey Petersen; daughter Lora (Craig) Hilligas daughters Bree and Luke Baatz and Haley Hilligas; sister-in-law Arlene Fortune; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Harold and Betty Zahn, Bob and Rosalie Hall, Jim and Carol Munford, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Services at Christ Lutheran (Delaware) on Monday February 27, 2012 at 10:30 A.M. with visitation from 1:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. with family greeting friends 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the Fusselman-Allen-Harvey Funeral Home in Syracuse, Nebraska. Memorials to Christ Lutheran Cemetery fund.