Eloise Marie Anderson

Eloise Marie Anderson, 91, passed away Sunday, July 19, 2015 at Arbor Springs in West Des Moines, IA. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Funeral service will be on Friday, July 24, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Westchester Evangelical Free Church, 4919 Aurora Ave. in Des Moines.

Eloise was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 19, 1924, to Stanley and Alice Anonsen. She grew up in Kerkhoven, Minnesota, a small Scandinavian community. It was during those years that she enjoyed many church activities, Girl Scouts, playing the saxophone and intramural basketball. Her father moved the family to Minneapolis, when she was a senior in high school, so the four siblings could attend college. Eloise went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics/Statistics.

It was at the First Evangelical Free Church in Minneapolis that she met the love of her life, Don Anderson. After the war, they married on August 22, 1947.

Her life with Don led them to Des Moines. In 1955, they started Anderson Engineering Company, where she oversaw the company finances.

Along with her work, she found time to raise three children. She also held many positions at her church including financial secretary, choir member, pianist, youth leader, and director of Young at Hearts.

Eloise loved working with her hands and creating beautiful things. She spent many enjoyable hours sewing, quilting, knitting, doll-making and doing needlepoint and ceramics. She was best known for her cooking and being a hostess extraordinaire.

Eloise was an avid reader. In her high school yearbook, next to her picture, the words to describe her read, “Give her a book and she will be content”. She passed on her love of reading to her children and grandchildren.

In addition to wintering in Naples, Florida, Eloise enjoyed her summers at their log homes. Don and Eloise also had a few adventurous years on their boat on the Mississippi River. Even in a small kitchen galley, she would create a feast for friends and family, who would accompany them on various excursions.

Don and Eloise traveled extensively throughout their lives, but her favorite travels were to Norway, the country of her ancestors.

The greatest joy for Eloise was to be with her family, especially her 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, who always seemed to bring a smile to her face.

Everything Eloise did was done humbly, with no need for recognition or fanfare.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Donald Anderson; daughters, Barbara (Steve) Beal of West Des Moines, Nancy (Bill) Knapp of Des Moines; son, Jim (Debbie) Anderson of Ola, Idaho; grandchildren, Brad Beal of West Des Moines, Shelley (Ben) Twigg of Waukee, Bill (Lora) Knapp III of West Des Moines, Lora Knapp of Houston, Texas, Travis (Blair) Anderson of North Pole, Alaska, and Kristine (Jesse Laird) Anderson of Shelton, Washington; great-grandchildren, Emma Twigg, Lily Twigg, Maya Twigg, Clare Knapp, Wesley Anderson, Emily Anderson, Luke Anderson, and Sawyer Laird; sisters-in-law, Virginia Anonsen of Fort Myers, Florida, and Bernice Gustafson of Willmar, Minnesota.

Eloise was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Stanley Anonsen Jr., Richard Anonsen, and Sheldon Anonsen.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Westchester Evangelical Free Church.

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