Virginia Elaine (Wishek) ANDERSON

WISHEK, ANDERSON, KING, STICKLES, REAFAN, HOCHALTER, MEADE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:43

January 8, 1931 ---- September 8, 2017

Virginia Elaine Wishek Anderson, 86, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away on September 8, 2017 - she was surrounded by family. Virginia was born January 8, 1931 in Wishek, North Dakota. Virginia graduated from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa with a music and teaching degree. She accepted a position in Kanawha, Iowa as a music teacher and was married July 3, 1955 to Joseph Anderson. Joe and Virginia moved their family to Phoenix, AZ in 1961. Virginia taught music in Avondale for one year. She found much joy teaching Special Education and primary grades in Washington School district for 32 years. Her career of teaching young lives covered a span of 39 years professionally. Virginia never wavered to waste a teaching moment. There was always something to learn or read about and she took every opportunity to share the miracles of life. She instilled core values, taking her children to Sunday school, teaching them how to treat others, to be honest and work hard to complete every task to the best of their ability. Virginia loved being surrounded by family and close friends. There was always a song on her heart to which she sang out loud. She could sew almost anything and stayed up late at night to cut, sew, and hem garments for her family with love in every stitch. Virginia could make a home cooked meal to feed anyone within her home. She fed neighbors and strangers - lovingly and with grace.

Virginia is survived by daughters: Jode (Ralph) King, Ninnette Stickles, Madeline (Glen) Reagan; sons: Perry (Angie), Stewart (Wendy), Benjamin (Kathy); sisters: Jonna Hochalter, Nina Meade; grandchildren: Shawn, Kristan, Toni, Charles, Nicole, Blake, Joseph, Roy, Jacob, Alexandria, Todd, Zayne; and great grandchildren: Frank, David, William, Naythen, Noah, Addison, Cameryn, Jaxon, Alleena, Junior, Lucas, Oliver, and Charlee.

Donations can be given to Wartburg College, Attention Music department, 100 Wartburg Boulevard, Waverly, IA 50677. A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Friday, September 15, 2017 with visitation Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 5 - 8 pm at Hansen Mortuary, 8314 N. 7th St., Phoenix.

Arizona Republic --- Phoenix, Arizona
September 12, 2017