Marie Anderson's Obituary
To view the livestream of Marie's service click here: na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2F%40stjohnsbythecampus&data=05%7C01%7C%7C170942b2b87a447a5d1108db353af413%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638162299532457017%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=aHzoSyb60evKcavg%2BnnEvWQuM80VkNcQvsOyzBgnKw8%3D&reserved=0 Marie Patricia Anderson passed away peacefully on March 30, 2023 surrounded by family after a happy, much-loved, and productive life. She was born on September 12, 1934 in Marietta, MN, Marie was the first of six children to Stephen and Lucy (Kockelman) Wenker. Upon graduation from high school, she moved to Minneapolis where she met her future husband Don, a Civil Engineering student at the University of Minnesota. They were married on August 7, 1954 at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Minneota, Minnesota. Don was called to Air Force ROTC active duty to be stationed at Chitose Air Force Base on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. They drove to San Francisco with another couple who had also been called up, and visited Bryce, Zion, and Death Valley parks along the way. Marie followed a few months later while pregnant with their first child, Duane, who was born at the Air Force Base. Upon Don's discharge from the Air Force, they moved to Ames, Iowa where Don began his career with the Iowa Highway Commission as a Soils Engineer. In 1957 their second child, Michael was born at the original Mary Greeley hospital. Their third child, Lisa was born in 1960, also at Mary Greeley. Marie was an active member of the Episcopal Parish of Ames (EPOA), the Ames Women's Club, PEO, and enjoyed her bowling league, gardening, learning guitar, playing bridge, dancing and summer vacations in northern Minnesota. She was Head Secretary at Iowa State University's Electrical Engineering department and retired in 1992, concurrent with Don's retirement from the Iowa Department of Transportation. Don and Marie traveled extensively and celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Greece. They also visited Russia, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and traveled throughout the United States for many of Don's conferences and visited Costa Rica frequently to see their grandchildren. In their retirement years, they enjoyed gardening, golfing (particularly when she got a hole-in-one!) trips to South Carolina, Indiana, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oregon, Washington, the Tetons, Glacier National Park; and wintering and playing golf in the Florida panhandle. Marie also enjoyed her gym club, book club, gourmet club and more bridge. Marie is survived by her three children, Duane "Chip" and Mary (Muir), Michael, and Lisa; three grandsons, Benjamin and Venche (Kleven) Anderson, Jonathan and Caitlin (McCullough) Anderson, and Michael J. and Helen (Creger) Anderson; six great-grandchildren Ansley, Caralyn, Raylee, Dalton, Kathryn, and Anya; her sister Donna Mae Matthys, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Don, her parents, grandparents, sisters Shirley Swenson and Darlene Hamilton, brothers Duane and Virgil, and one nephew. The family would like to express their gratitude for the excellent care provided by the kind and exceptional staff at McFarland Clinic, Northridge Village Assisted Living and Maggie's Place, Mary Greeley Hospital, and Mary Greeley Hospice Care. Marie was comfortable and well cared for in her final days. A viewing and gathering of friends and family will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 pm Tuesday April 4th at Grandon Funeral Home, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday April 5th at St. John's by the Campus Episcopal Church of Ames, 2338 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa. Online condolences may be directed to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be sent to Christ for the City International. Online at www.cfci.org or via mail at: CFCI 5855 North 90th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68134.
What’s your fondest memory of Marie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Marie?
Share a story where Marie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Marie you’ll never forget.
How did Marie make you smile?