Karen Petersen
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me! I have been a licensed Realtor since 2003. I am originally from Pilger, Nebraska and have lived in Norfolk, Nebraska since 2002. My husband, Ivan, and I are blessed with three beautiful children! Our family is very active in our church, our community, and the real estate market in Northeast Nebraska.
Following HIS LEAD & SERVING HIM is my real estate slogan. There are so many details involved in purchasing and selling real estate. Your housing goals and needs always come first! From finding you the right property, to negotiating the offer, staying proactive during the pended process, closing your property, and continuing that relationship after the sale is completed, are all steps in the process. We have the Best Boss guiding us through your home buying and home selling process, and we will Follow HIS Lead! My family and I are extremely grateful for the clients I have represented, currently represent, and will represent in the future! I would be honored to have the opportunity to be part of your story and see the miracles unfold in the process.
History
Here is a little bit about my upbringing, who I am today, and the vision I have for the future. First and foremost, I am a daughter of the ONE TRUE KING. I am also Gary and Sandy Horst’s daughter, a sister to Ryan Horst from Wisner, and a sister to Debra (Horst) Wegener from Burwell, Nebraska.
I grew up in a farming family in Stanton County south of Pilger, Nebraska. Cattle, hogs, chickens, ducks, cats, dogs, and pony chores were in our daily routine. Sowing alfalfa on Mother’s Day, riding on the tractor with Dad, bottle feeding calves, and holding my calf, Curly, in my arms when she took her last breath were all a part of my story. Memories of riding in the straight truck with my Dad to haul grain to Clarkson or Howells, Nebraska was a part of our fall routine during harvest; getting suckers at the grain elevators were a highlight as kids. Pulling up old boards in the corn crib, seeing the mice scatter, and watching our cats get their next meal happened on a few occasions. A scar remains on my left knee from playing in the corn, at the base of the auger when it accidentally got turned on, which reminds me how much my family loves me and how God performed a miracle that afternoon……by the grace of God, my knee only has a scar, and my leg is still intact.
We were always working on the farm, whether fixing fence, moving cattle, vaccinating the herd, walking beans, spraying corn, doing daily livestock chores, cutting thistles in the pasture, butchering chickens, freezing sweet corn, canning tomatoes, or harvesting our crops, we were working together to manage the gifts the Good Lord blessed us with.
Our family also worshipped regularly at Zion St. John’s Lutheran Church south of Wisner, Nebraska. We were singing, praising, growing, and receiving God’s forgiveness and grace with our church family and guests.
One fall day after Dad finished spraying and the cattle had been treated, something caused him to have a major health reaction. After that episode, Dad told Mom our family was moving to town. We finished harvest out that Fall, our livestock was sold, my calves were sold while I was in school, and we started a new chapter.
Our family purchased a home in Stanton, Nebraska, and I started 6th grade at Stanton Elementary School. I was scared; I was nervous. Moving to town, leaving my Pilger friends, making new friends, and starting a new routine were my next steps. Mrs. Joyce Heller was my 6th grade teacher, and she made the transition easier than expected. Mrs. Heller, you will never know the impact you made on all of us when you allowed us to celebrate our birthdays with a few friends in the booth of your classroom, with ice cream and all the toppings! Little did I know that one of my first Stanton friends, Chris (Hoehne) Scholl, would be the maid of honor in Ivan and I’s wedding someday.
Moving to town opened some new doors for me. I was able to compete in sports. I started a lawn mowing business when I was 12 years old. Barbara Wittgow was my first customer. I continued mowing lawns until I could drive; then Dad took over my lawn mowing customers.
Working at Hy-Vee West was my first job working for someone else. I love people! I loved the conversations we had while scanning and checking out their groceries. Tammy Ruroede and I were always laughing, having fun with our customers, and making the grocery shopping experience memorable for everyone!
During High School, FFA was a HUGE part of my development; Creed speaking, land judging, range judging, livestock judging, our state qualifying drywall demonstration, and surviving the 1999 Oklahoma City tornadoes as Mr. Gerald Dux, our Ag advisor, dodged multiple tornadoes in our school van, were a few of our fond memories. Making breakfast for the teachers and staff during FFA week was always a highlight, too. Mr. Dux always told us, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” The relationships, the connections, the paths we cross with people will impact our lives in the future. He certainly hit the nail on the head with that comment.
God blessed me with a church family at Faith Lutheran Church in Stanton after we moved to town. Our family worshipped every Sunday, unless we were sick. God blessed me with gifts and talents that allowed National Honor Society, Senior Class President, Salutatorian, Prom Queen, and FFA President to be part of my story.
Working for Jensen Construction during the summer before my senior year, and Big John Manufacturing in Osmond the summer before my freshman year of college, were priceless and rewarding experiences.
While attending Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska to earn my Associate of Ag Transfer Degree (I wanted to be a veterinarian), I cleaned homes, tutored, and worked at the campus computer lab. Realizing I wasn’t committed to eight years of college, I decided to work towards my animal science degree. Pharmaceutical rep was of interest to me. I didn’t want another young girl to experience losing her bottle calf in her arms.
After attending UNL for a couple of months, I switched gears. Ivan and I got married, purchased our first home in Norfolk, Nebraska, and I started taking real estate classes. Mr. Dux told us in high school that we would change our mind at least three times before we settled down with our career path; he was right!
Cleaning homes and businesses were part of my routine again. (Cleaning is therapeutic, and I enjoyed seeing the finished product and the smiles on my customers’ faces). Ivan and I also started our family while we were young. Marshall, Mason, and Kendra were and are GIFTS that God blessed us with.
I became a licensed Realtor in 2003. My real estate career started at Coldwell Banker Dover Realtors. Suzi Wolfe was my main mentor when I started my career, and my Coldwell Banker Dover Realtors’ family was priceless to work with.
After five years of growing and working as a Realtor, God called me to join RE/MAX Associates. HE led me to help hundreds of buyers and sellers during that time frame. It was an honor and a pleasure to be part of everyone’s story and their next chapters.
On January 31, 2022 at 5:30 a.m., the Holy Spirit placed Following His Lead Real Estate on my heart. I immediately woke up and jotted it down. I had such an OVERWHELMING PEACE. On the word” His,” I dotted the I with a cross. The prayer I jotted down read, “Good Morning, God! Thank you for planting these thoughts in my head early this morning. Holy Spirit, continue to LEAD and GUIDE our family in the next steps You have in mind for us.”
After being bought out as one of the owners of RE/MAX Associates, finding a space for our new real estate company, and passing my Nebraska Broker’s exam, Inspire Home & Land Realty was conceived.
Inspire Home & Land Realty’s office opened its doors in September 2022. God has led and continues to lead our family on this journey. He has called Joy Parkinson to be a realtor in our office; Tina Urban has been called to be our welcoming face when you walk through the front door and our administrative coordinator. God knows the other Realtors that HE will call to join our team in the future.
You will see farm related items and pictures throughout our office; you will see words of encouragement and growth and our company’s cross rock by the front desk. God is our boss!
We are SERVING HIM and FOLLOWING HIS LEAD as we assist you with your real estate needs. Looking forward to meeting you, being part of your story, and experiencing the God Winks and Divine Appointments along the way.
God’s Blessings to You Always!