Merle Marie Anderson, 94, died Sunday, March 27, at her home.
Merle was born March 12, 1917, in West Chicago, the middle daughter of Merrill and Mary (Shoemaker) Fink. She graduated in 1935 from West Chicago High School. In 1939, she graduated with her nursing degree from Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago.
One of her first jobs was serving ice cream treats at Colonial’s Roxie Palace of Cream in West Chicago. She dated, fell in love with and married her boss, Paul S. Anderson, in 1940 and moved to St. Charles. Paul died in 1943. Merle married Paul’s brother, Joe K., in 1944.
In 1951, Merle and Joe K. bought a farm in Campton Township and named it Andy’s Acres. Merle’s large kitchen table holds memories of great meals served to so many relatives over the years. Joe K.’s joke was to say, “We haven’t eaten this good since the last time you were here.” Besides cooking for her family of seven, during the summer months college relatives stayed with them and worked at Colonial Ice Cream.
Her life was a devotion to her family, whom she loved dearly. Merle served her church and community by volunteering for many projects over the decades. All who knew her loved her and she was a mentor to many. Merle loved to watch her Cubs play ball. One of her best friends was her daughter, Jody.
Along with her first husband Paul, Merle Marie was preceded in death by Joe K., her husband of 53 years; her sisters Harriett (Lawrence) Stoll and Ruth (Scott) Dilworth; and her son Charles Joseph Anderson.
She is survived by her son Thomas Simon (Cristina) Anderson; her son Paul Simon (Noeli) Anderson; her daughter-in-law Shirley Anderson; her daughter Jody Kay (Ronald) Jaynes; her son John Arthur (Lynette) Anderson; and her 16 grandchildren Suzana (Eric) Chock, Clinton Anderson, Sonia (Blake) Murray, Lily Anderson, Merle McConaha, Sarah (Steve) Byers, Simon (Sara) Anderson, Michelle (Mark) DeRoo, Olof (Rachel) Anderson, Cameron Jaynes, Philip (Michelle) Jaynes, Gordon Jaynes, Andrea (Justin) Paris, Joni Anderson, Courtney Anderson and Steven Anderson. Merle’s 14 great-grandchildren are Clay, Alexa, Sierra, Brody, Cooper, Hazen, Jesse, Zoey, Brittney, Leif, Steffan, Annika, Charlotte and Bryce, with two more on the way.
Funeral Services were held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 2, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church 1145 N. 5th Ave., St. Charles, with the Rev. Mark Larson officiating. Burial will be at Union Cemetery St. Charles. Arrangements were made by Yurs Funeral Home St. Charles.
Memorials can be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 3850, St. Charles, IL or The TriCity Salvation Army, Joe K. Anderson Community Center, 1710 South 7th Ave.
P.O. Box 3939, St. Charles, IL 60174.
