Anderson, Anna Olive (Berge)

Anna Olive (Berge) Anderson, 83, of Cedar Rapids died suddenly Sunday morning, January 31, 2010, surrounded by family at St. Luke's Hospital following a brief illness. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 3634 1st Ave NE. Interment in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Anna was born December 21, 1926, in Morris, Illinois to Osmund and Helene (Dorheim) Berge who immigrated from Norway. She graduated from Morris High School in 1944. She attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and Lutheran Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois. On March 2, 1946, she married William G. Anderson and accompanied him to Rhode Island where he was assigned to the Newport Naval Station.

Anna cherished her role as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. While her children were young she served as a volunteer in many capacities, including Cub Scout Den Mother, Camp Fire Leader, elementary school room mother and “Picture Lady”. Later she volunteered as a tutor with the Kirkwood Community College Laubach Literacy program. Anna was also employed by Armstrong's Department Store for fifteen years. She enjoyed her co-workers and the interactions with customers.

Anna was a charter member of Sons of Norway, Restauration Lodge. She also belonged to Foursquare Club and King's Daughters. Anna was a charter member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and a long time member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. She was active in Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA), particularly the Eunice Circle.

Ann was a lovely person who always thought of others first. She had a clever sense of humor and was quite animated when telling stories, especially pertaining to her family, friends, and her Norwegian heritage. As a child she began her visits to family in Norway and learned to value her Norwegian heritage. She enjoyed baking kringle and krumkake for family and friends, and having a decorative Norwegian influence in her home.

Surviving to honor her memory are her husband of nearly 64 years William G. Anderson, a son William H. Anderson of Cedar Rapids, four daughters, Rebecca (Thomas C.) Beusch of Kildeer, Illinois, Jeanne (Thomas G.) Hoyt of Overland Park, Kansas, Lisa (Richard J.) Twedt and Lori (Tom E.) Hampton both of Cedar Rapids. Also surviving are two sisters, Selma (Robert) Anderson of Moorhead, Minnesota, and Marien (Pete) Thompson of Cedar Rapids, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, infant daughter Gail Sue Anderson, and a son James Eric Anderson.

Anna's compassion and enthusiasm will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Our Savior's Lutheran Church in memory of Anna O. Anderson.

Please leave a message or tribute to the Anderson family on our web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.