Genevieve Mae (Ahrens) ANDERSON

AHRENS, ANDERSON, MURPHY, OEHLERT, TJARKS, PRUITT, NELSON, LYONS, OLEMANN, MEYERS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/18/2011 at 00:50:02

January 2, 1926 --- December 9, 2011

Genevieve "Gen" Mae Anderson, 85, formerly of Hampton, died December 9 at Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake surrounded by her family. Services were Wednesday, December 14 at 11 a.m. at Andrews Funeral Home in Belmond with Rev. Rod Hopp officiating. Burial was in the Hampton Cemetery.   

Genevieve Mae, the daughter of Albert and Rose (Murphy) Ahrens, was born January 2, 1926 in Ingham Township, Franklin County. She attended Franklin County schools. Genevieve was united in marriage to Berle Anderson on May 28, 1944, at the church parsonage in Bristow. The couple made their home for the next four years in Dumont.  The couple then moved to a small farm east of Dows where they began a family. The couple’s union was blessed with seven children: sons Russell, Dick and Dale, and daughters Phyliss, Dee, Donna and Joyce. Gen, as she often wanted to be called, also had another daughter, Virginia, who passed away at birth. Gen was the proud grandma of 14 grandchildren, and great grandma of 14 great grandchildren.

Gen and Berle eventually moved to a farm outside of Coulter. Berle then went to work at Farmer's Hybrid in Hampton while Gen continued to focus on the family. She always raised a large garden to supply food for her family. She loved animals, and over the years she had raised poodles, Pomeranians, St. Bernards, her favorite cat Coochie, and a group of pigs. After losing her husband in 1975 at only 50 years old, Gen stayed on the Coulter farm for two more years. Her youngest son, Dale, graduated in 1977. In Gen’s words, “Since I finally got all of the chickens (her kids) out of the nest,” she decided to move to a small house in Hampton. After several years of being alone, Gen became active in a bowling league and went to the Hampton Senior Center where she met many new friends and became known as a prankster, playing many little tricks and pranks in good fun on her friends. Her good-humored pranks even spilled over into her love of garage sales. Her own sales would often include a Free Items box with a lid rigged like a Jack in the Box that would jump open when opened by shoppers’ curiosities.

Gen also looked forward to outings to play bingo and adventures on bus trips to the casino at Tama. Her family and friends will remember her intensity at the slot machines, where she would often ask them to, “Stay out of my zone.” She was always up for a good game of cards. Gen blossomed like a flower during her years living in Hampton. Gen also had a soft spot in her heart for dolls, and had collected many over her lifetime. She looked forward to a trip out for Kentucky Fried Chicken. She will be remembered by her family for the wonderful Sunday afternoons when she would provide them with a full chicken dinner made with her loving hands. They will think of her as they hear tunes by her favorite entertainers, including, Lawrence Welk, Johnny Cash and Louis Armstrong.

Those her knew Gen well, including her family, will remember her as a lady who always put the needs and wishes of every member of her family first, before her own needs. Gen lived a simple life and her presence, will be missed by family and friends. Gen truly believed and often said, “Everyone should tend to their own business and keep your nose out of others’ business.”  After moving from Hampton, she lived for a time at Apple Valley Assisted Living in Clear Lake prior to becoming a resident of the Oakwood Care Center.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; infant daughter Virginia; brothers Ilo and Delbert Ahrens; and sisters Marge Oehlert, Alice Tjarks and Bev Pruitt. Gen's memory will live on in her surviving family including daughters Phyllis Nelson of Hampton, Dee (Jerry) Lyons of Alden, son Russell (Vicki) Anderson of Thornton, daughter Donna (Raymond) Olemann of Marshalltown, son Richard (Debbie) Anderson of Lake Havasu, AZ, daughter Joyce (Gary) Meyers of Alden, and son Dale (Debbie) Anderson of Clear Lake; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

Memorials or expressions may be directed to the family: Dale Anderson, 2532 South Shore Drive, Clear Lake, 50428. The family would like to express their sincerest appreciation for the love and care shown to Gen and her family by Hospice of North Iowa and Oakwood Care Center.

Belmond Independent - Belmond, Iowa
December 13, 2011