Theresa Elizabeth Anderson

Theresa E. Anderson, 103, formerly of Waukon, IA, was called to Jesus on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 10:00 AM until the time of services Saturday at church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Theresa Elizabeth Anderson was born to Aloysius "Louis" and Sarah Wetzel in Cincinnati, OH, on December 9, 1921, the fifth child in a family of 11 brothers and sisters. Her patron saint was Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, known as the "little flower".

She attended the Regina All Girls Catholic High School. After high school, she worked in different businesses in Cincinnati, one of which was P. Goldsmith Sporting Goods that manufactured baseballs, gloves, shoes, and golf clubs. In 1942, she asked her father if she could move to Miami to live with a girlfriend and her father said, "You are 21; you can do anything that you wish." Theresa had gotten a job with Pan-American Airways, working in an engineering department. It was later, during WWII in Miami, where she met a young naval aviator, Paul Anderson, who was training at the Miami Naval Air Station. World War II ended before Paul was deployed to the Pacific, and the two married in Cincinnati on November 24, 1945, and moved to Waukon, IA. While Paul worked in the family business, Theresa was a homemaker and raised four children. She was very devout in her faith at St. Patrick Parish in Waukon and was active in the Council of Catholic Women. She enjoyed her women's golf group as well.

After retiring, Paul and Theresa spent winters in Florida and eventually moved there full time. Together, Paul and Theresa operated Green Valley Golf Course in the summers until 1989. Theresa loved her Green Valley "golfers" and loved sports in general. In her 80s, she became a big Tampa Bay fan, both football and baseball. It was rare for her to miss a game on the television. At 92, her daughters took her to a Mother's Day baseball game in Tampa!

Theresa loved travel. Paul had taken her on trips including to Europe and Hawaii. In her later years, she was able to travel to see family and also took a cruise to Alaska. Most of all, she loved her trip to the Holy Land with her Florida parishioners at St. Benedict's Parish in Crystal River, FL. She held dear the friendships she made on that trip.

Her fondness of piano and music kept her days filled. In her younger years, she loved learning to play the organ at St. Patrick Church. In her 90s, she published a small booklet of poetry that she set to music and gave them to her friends and family. Although she lost most of her sight, Theresa continued to play piano until her last days. Two of her favorite tunes were "The Entertainer" and Paul's favorite, "Danny Boy"! Her love for family, friends, and strangers was unbounded.

Theresa is survived by a sister Angela; daughters: Susan (Mark Stapels) McCollough of Crystal River, FL, and Nancy Nissen of Beverly Hills, FL; son Steven (Kathryn Emorey) Anderson of Bettendorf, IA; 15 grandchildren; and 26 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul D. Anderson; her son Lawrence J. Anderson; her parents; and nine brothers and sisters.