Irene Anderson

Irene B. Anderson, age 90 of Sauk Centre, died Saturday, September 27, 2008 at St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 2 at First United Church of Christ in Sauk Centre. Rev. James Clausen will officiate with interment following in Greenwood Cemetery.

Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Irene Anderson was born in Alexandria, Minnesota on December 21, 1917 to George and Hazel (Bacon) Brophy. She later met and married Orrin Anderson, a carpenter from Sauk Centre. In 1938, Orrin became a custodian for the public school and library in Sauk Centre, and Irene occasionally helped him at the library. In 1943, Irene was hired as an assistant at the library and worked under six librarians during her 33-year career. She retired in July, 1980. Irene enjoyed the work very much, especially when the students came over on a regular basis before the new schools were built. She enjoyed the interaction with teachers and students and being busy most of the time. All her life, she was an avid reader, enjoying books on historical fiction, western stories, wildlife, nature and gardening.Irene loved working in her vegetable and flower gardens and had a real gift for growing everything. At home she enjoyed baking, sewing, feeding and watching the birds. Whenever she could get away, she liked to travel, camp and fish. During her younger years she took dance and acrobatics, for which she had talent. Holidays were some of her happiest times, especially when her four grandchildren were small. Irene had been a member of the United Church of Christ ever since her marriage in 1936 and in her younger years taught Sunday school. When she was an assistant librarian, she was active in the Business and Professional Women's Club.

Survivors include her daughter, Kathleen (Joseph) Juneau of St. Paul; granddaughter, Jennifer (Kevin) Schinzing of Stacy; grandsons, Orin (Deb) Anderson, III of Glencoe, Eric Anderson of Spicer, Gene Murray, Jr. of St. Paul; and daughter-in-law, Sondra Anderson of Spicer; four great-grandchildren, Nick Lundell, Danny and Marisa Schinzing, and Rachel Irene Anderson; nieces, Andrea Lokowich, Apryl Goffinet, Mary Ellen Olin, Sandra Crofton, and Annette Monson; nephews, David Olson, Victor Olson, and Jerry Nesheim. Many good friends will miss her, too.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Orrin Anderson, Sr.; son, Orin Anderson, Jr.; parents, George and Hazel Brophy; an infant brother, Kenneth George; two infant sisters, Alice and Phyllis; and sisters, Kay Villano, Margaret Olson, Hazel Nesheim, and Lois Kaufman.

Serving as casket bearers were Orin Anderson, Eric Anderson, Gene Murray, and Eric Carlson.