A Tribute

My grandma went home to be with Jesus last week. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that there won't be any more letters from her waiting on my bed when I get home from work. She won't be there at holidays or all of the other important events in her grandchildren's lives that she loved to attend. She won't be there to stand on the bride's side at my wedding. I used to look forward to the day when we might be able to take a four-generation picture with my grandma, my mom, me and my little one, and that is not a possibility anymore.

I know as the days and months and years go by there will be lots of things I will miss. But there will be so many more things that I will remember and praise God for because of the legacy that my grandma left for me.

As many people heard at my grandma's funeral, it was very fitting that she died on what would have been her 56th anniversary. Through the years that my grandpa suffered with Alzheimer's disease, my grandma lived out her wedding vows of "For better or for worse... in sickness and in health". Her dedicated love for my grandpa, her patience, her honesty when things were tough, all of these have served as beautiful examples to me and the rest of my family.

My grandma also invested so much in her grandchildren. Every Christmas program, sporting event or ceremony that went on, she did her very best to be there. She was always eager to hear what we were doing and how things were going, and she truly cared about what we had to say. I so loved getting letters from my grandma through college and as I moved to Texas. Some of my friends who opened empty mailboxes told me how cool it was that I had a grandma who wrote to me regularly. She loved to play games with us at Thanksgiving and when we spent the night, and we laughed a lot together over Pit, Spoons, or Dutch Blitz.

I believe what Paul says in 2 Corinthians that to be absent from the body is to be present with Lord if we are believers. My grandma is at the feet of the Lord, giving him glory and praise. I don't know exactly how heaven will work, but I think that we will get to see our loved ones again, and so I wait with eager anticipation for the day when I can see both my grandparents again. But, for now, I want to continue to live out the things that my grandma taught me, and in doing so, continue on the legacy that she left.

Lorraine Anderson 1934-2010

My grandma's obituary that appeared in the Norfolk Daily News on August 19th.

Services for Lorraine Anderson, 76, of Madison will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Community Church with the Rev. Roy Scorup officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. at Resseguie Funeral Home. She died at home Tuesday, August 17th, 2010.

Lorraine, the daughter of Adolph and Millie (Konicek) Severa, was born and raised on the family farm southeast of Madison in Stanton County. She graduated from Madison High School in 1952 and from Norfolk Junior College two years later.

She taught in several rural schools, including seven years at District 96 south of Meadow Grove, before teaching second grade at Newman Grove Public School for 23 years. While she was teaching, Lorraine earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Wayne State College in 1971. She retired in 1998.
On August 17, 1954, Lorraine married Donald A. Anderson at Trinity United Methodist Church in Madison. They were married for 55 years prior to Donald's death.

Lorraine enjoyed teaching, walking, flowers and especially spending time with her family. She loved entertaining and doing projects with her grandchildren. Lorraine took particular delight in attending her grandchildren's activities. She wrote a special book of memories to each of her children and grandchildren.
In September of 1970, Lorraine trusted Christ as her personal Savior, and she was an active member of Calvary Community Church.

Lorraine is survived by her children and their spouses, Brian and Yvonne Anderson of rural Hoskins, Arden and Karen Anderson of rural Chappell and Chris and Mark Hilkemann of rural Pierce; 15 grandchildren, Sarah Hilkemann, Lars Anderson, Beth Hilkemann, Sven Anderson, Ilene Anderson, Josh Hilkemann, Amelia Anderson, Nels Anderson, Emily Hilkemann, Miles Anderson, Hannah Anderson, Leah Anderson, Matthew Hilkemann, Anthony Anderson, and Regina Anderson; one sister, Adelyn Shultz of Madison; one brother, Adolph "Duffy" Severa and his wife Shirley of Fremont; one sister-in-law Carol Severa of Norfolk; and one brother-in-law, Alvin Sayers of Clarkson.

She was proceded in death by her parents; husband; infant brother, Joseph Severa; one sister, Mary Lou Sayers; and a brother-in-law, Otto Shultz.