Jane Anderson

JANE E. ANDERSON

Iowa City

It is with great sadness we announce Jane E. Anderson died July 23, 2021, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics of heart failure. Jane was 84 years old. Jane started her successful career as the obituary writer for the Youngstown Vindicator during her summers in college – thus her family realizes we have a high standard to meet in summarizing the wonderful life of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, dear friend and mentor, and inspirational leader in clinical psychology.

Jane was born in Youngstown, Ohio, to Dr. Richard and Helen (Hick) Middleton. She and her two younger sisters, Mary and Helen, graduated from Boardman High School, where Jane was near the top of her class. She continued her academic success at DePauw University, where she earned a B.A. degree cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa Alpha Theta and Mortar Board. Jane earned her M.S. in General Psychology and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Purdue University. After completing postdoctoral study at The Judge Baker Guidance Center and the Boston Children's Hospital, both of Harvard Medical School, Jane joined their staff where she worked with children and families. She was certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Examiners in Psychology (ABEP) with a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology.

It was at Purdue University where Jane met Charlie Anderson, and they had a long-distance romance for three years while Jane was in Boston. In 1966, Jane and Charlie married and ended their honeymoon in Iowa City, where they both joined the faculty at the University of Iowa. Jane served as Assistant Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology, and eventually became Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychology. In 1978, she joined her colleague Kristin Arnold to establish Anderson, Arnold, & Partners, a private practice in clinical psychology in Iowa City, which eventually grew to a practice with 13 clinicians, plus a therapy dog. Jane and her colleagues created a model of practice that was women-owned and led, and provided effective therapy to a multitude of adults, children and families. She retired from active practice in 2003.

Jane also shared her intelligence and leadership through the support she offered in the community for many years. She was an active member of the American Psychological Association, Iowa Psychological Association (President), and a Fellow of the American Orthopsychiatric Association. Jane was active in the development of Common Cause in Iowa. She served on the Board of Directors for United Way of Johnson County and Compassionate Friends of Iowa City. Jane served as an advisor for the Iowa City Civil Service Commission, eventually being appointed for two terms, along with serving two terms as a public member on the Iowa Board of Law Examiners. She was a member of P.E.O Chapter HI and was chair of the board of the Crisis Center of Johnson County (now known as CommUnity), and still managed to find the time to volunteer and serve on the Vestry of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Jane will be missed for her brilliant wit, incredible guidance, advice and support, and her bright laughter. Jane broke through multiple glass ceilings, paving the way and being an inspiration for not only her daughter, but for dozens of professional women.

Jane is survived by her loving husband, Charlie; her adoring daughter, Mary Elisabeth; her supportive daughter-in-law, Jan Arnold; her beloved grandson, Jordan Arnold-Anderson; and her loyal grand-dog, Baxter. She also is survived by her sister, Mary Isabella (Middleton) Mulhauser of Pittsburgh and her family, as well as countless colleagues and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Helen.

To celebrate the love and life of Jane, a funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at Trinity Episcopal Church of Iowa City, 320 E. College St., Iowa City, Iowa. Those attending the service at the church are required to wear a mask and register to attend at www.trinityic.org/jane-anderson-funeral, where the funeral service will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in-person. If you knew Jane, you knew she was a woman who not only had a zest for life but also shared it with everyone she knew. Let's not forget her smile, her wit, nor her contagious laughter with a celebration of life to be held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at Lensing's Oak Hill, 210 Holiday Rd., Coralville, Iowa. The family requests that attendees of the service and reception be vaccinated for COVID-19. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank (builtbycommunity.org) or Trinity Episcopal Church of Iowa City (trinityic.org).