Nelda Rae Andersen, 16 Aug 1947 - 19 Feb 2016

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

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 5/19/2016 at 13:07:59

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

Nelda was born Aug. 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 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 Sept. 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 day care.

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 was 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; son, Eric Andersen (fiancee 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; 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 also was 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.

Please share a memory of Nelda at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

The Gazette, Posted on Monday, 22 February 2016, 10a