Elizabeth "Lisa" Ann Petersen, 61, passed away on March 15, 2026. Lisa was born on September 30, 1964, in Racine, Wisconsin, to Leroy Petersen and Mary Alice (Nyboe) Petersen. She grew up in Racine and graduated from Case High School.

Much of Lisa's life was spent caring for others through her work in healthcare in both Wisconsin and California. She carried a commitment to service, showing up day after day for people who needed steadiness, compassion, and skill. But the people who knew her best saw that same devotion most clearly in her family. She loved her nieces and nephews fiercely, who affectionately knew her as "Belita", and delighted in the arrival of her grand-nephews and niece, whose lives she embraced with pride and enthusiasm. To them she was not only an aunt, but a constant source of love and connection.

She found joy in the simple, meaningful traditions that brought people together. Baking was one of her gifts, especially the Danish recipes passed down through her family, which she prepared with care and delight. Holiday cookie decorating became a tradition she helped create, less about perfection and more about time spent together, laughter, and a table full of frosting and sugary sprinkles. These were the moments she treasured.

If you knew Lisa, you knew she was drawn to the rhythm and beauty of the natural world. Sunrises and sunsets were rarely missed, and she paid close attention to the movement of water, the presence of birds, and the shifting light, finding something meaningful in these simple, passing moments. She never overlooked the beauty of this world, she simply noticed it, quietly, and helped the rest of us do the same.

Lisa was a member of Bethania Lutheran Church, where her family's roots helped shape the values of care, service, and connection that guided her life.

Lisa is survived by her four siblings Mark (Melissa) Petersen, Kathy (Dan Lockren) Kramer, Krista Berger, Erik (Pam) Petersen; her close friend Scott Miller, her five nieces and nephews, Brian Petersen, Hannah (Matt) Diaz, Sam (Andraya) Kramer, Lauryn (Brendan) McCarron, and Ryan Berger; her five great-nephews and great niece, and her aunt and uncle (Kathrine and Richard Christensen), four close cousins, and many extended relatives and friends who remained an important part of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, LeRoy and Mary Alice Petersen.

No formal services will take place at this time. A celebration of life is planned for later this year.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or to a charity of choice.

May all who knew her remember her in the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, an act of service to others, and in the simple moments she never overlooked