Wynona Elaine Anderson

Wynona Elaine Anderson, the daughter of Laust F. and Dorthea (Steffensen) Jensen was born on November 27,1924, at her parent's home northeast of Audubon, Iowa; and died July 11, 2017, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa, at the age of 92 years, 7 months and 14 days. Wynona was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Audubon. She attended Viola Consolidated School and graduated with the High School Class of 1942. Upon graduation, she worked for various families as a mother's helper as well as general housework duties. She also continued to help on the family farm.
On January 12, 1945, she married H. Gene Anderson at Ventura, Calif. While Gene was in the Navy, she worked for several families in the Ventura area. Returning to Iowa, they farmed for 2 years in Shelby County. Then they moved to Viola Township in Audubon County for the remainder of their farming career. Wynona was a stay-at-home homemaker and assisted Gene with the farming duties while raising their four children: Dorothy, Diana, Peggy, and David. There was always a large garden to be tended, and the abundance of fruits and vegetables to be harvested and canned or frozen.
She was active with the country church, Mt. Zion Evangelical Church, which was near their farm. She had a beautiful singing voice; and was sought after to sing at special occasions and funerals.
Wynona was quite artistic in making quilts, knitting, crocheting, and embroidery. She also loved word search puzzles and playing solitaire.
In 1974 Gene and Wynona gave up the farming life and moved to the city of Audubon, and joined the Methodist Church. Gene passed away in 2002 and Wynona maintained their home until her health required that she move to the Friendship Home in January 2014.
Preceding her in death was her husband, H. Gene Anderson, her parents; her great-granddaughter, Abigail Knoop; her siblings Lillian and husband Wayne Kopeska, Marvin and Lucille (Anderson) Jensen; her parents-in-law, Martin and Margaret (Mendenhall) Anderson; her brothers and sisters-in-law; Oral and Lorraine (Jensen) Anderson, Paul and June (Olsen) Anderson, Merle Anderson; nephews Larry Anderson and Wayne Arthur Kopeska, and a niece Victoria (Anderson) Jamison.
Survivors include her children, Dorothy Sloth and Diana (John) Ballou, all of Audubon; Peggy (Larry) Winegar of Runnells, IA, and David “Hoss” Anderson of Adair. Grandchildren: Donisha Cosby of Burns, Oregon, Tina Ballou, Paula (Phillip) Lehman, and Emily Truitt (Toby Knoop) all of Des Moines, IA, and Ashley (Eric) Lack of Bondurant, IA, Bill (Morgan) Anderson of Exira, IA and Laura Anderson (Paul Knight) of Carroll, IA. Great Grandchildren: Dakota Lehman, Zachary Truitt, and Cora Knoop all of Des Moines, IA, and Owyn Lack of Bondurant, IA. Also surviving is her sister Ardis and husband Dale Eiben of Corpus Christi, TX; her sisters-in-law Valetta Jensen of Creston, IA, and Joyce Anderson of Eudora, KS; along with a host of nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
The family will meet with friends Saturday afternoon, July 15, 2017, from 1:00 P.M. until the time of the service at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, IA. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kathy Kluis Saturday afternoon July 15, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon. Interment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery. The honorary casket bearers will be the granddaughters and the great grandchildren. The casket bearers will be Bill Anderson, Craig Weber, Kent Weber, Brad Weber, Carey Ballou, and Dennis Ballou.