Nelda Rae Andersen, 16 Aug 1947 - 19 Feb 2016

ANDERSEN, SCHAUF, GARDNER, COFFIN, LAPKE, CROW, CROW-SCHRADER, LEHNST, HOCHSTEDLER

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 3/2/2016 at 15:06:15

Obituary for Nelda Rae Andersen

Nelda Rae (Schauf) Andersen, 68, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 19, 2016. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 24, 2016, from 4-7 p.m. at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. Memorial Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 25, 2016, at the funeral home by Rev. Sherri Andersen. Inurnment: Martin Creek Cemetery in rural Marion at a later date.

Nelda was born August 16, 1947, the only child of Clifford and Nellie (Gardner) Schauf of Williamsburg, Iowa. As a teenager, she worked at the Tastee Freeze and the Landmark Restaurant, graduating from Williamsburg High School in 1965. She then moved to Cedar Rapids to attend the Paris Academy of Beauty Culture, after which she worked at Josef Beauty Salon.

In the meantime, she attended a Linn County Young Adults meeting where she met her husband-to-be, Nile Andersen. They were married on September 22, 1968 and farmed in rural Marion, where they raised their three children. Nelda worked at the Boston Store in Marion, as well as two jewelry stores, and then provided home daycare.

In her free time, she enjoyed reading cookbooks, crafting, sewing, baking (especially her famous cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls), and watching British sitcoms. She also belonged to the Millwood Club, Danish Brotherhood of America, and the Linn County Sheep Producers. She is a lifelong member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Williamsburg.

Nile passed away in December 2012.

Nelda is survived by daughters Krista Andersen and Lisa (Stephen) Coffin of Marion and son Eric Andersen (fiancé Bonnie Lapke) of Spragueville; grandchildren, Grant, Courtney, Conner, and Mollie Coffin and Sadie and Kathryn Andersen; great-granddaughter, Mya; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Janice (Andersen) and James Crow; niece June (Adam) Crow-Schrader and nephew Jerry Crow; cousins Paul (Betty) Gardner, Dale (Janet) Gardner, and Jeanie (John) Lehnst; and Cory, Chelsie, and Bryce Hochstedler, who were always special to her. She was also looking forward to welcoming Grant, Madison, Brooke, and Will Lapke to the family in November 2016.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, cousin Rita (Gardner) Johnston, as well as many other loved ones.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Nelda’s memory.

Murdoch Funeral Home
The Gazette, 22 Feb 2016, 10a