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Edna Jane Anderson, daughter of Martin L. and Marie (Musselman) Larson, a long-term resident of Newell, passed away on Feb. 13, 2025, in Sun City, Ariz., at the age of 97.
Memorial services will take place Saturday, June 21, at 1 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Newell. Burial will be in Newell Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 11:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Newell Congregational Church or Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation - https://www.helpfightra.org. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell is in charge of the arrangements.
Jane was born on the family farm near Eagle Grove. A few years later, the family purchased and moved to a farm south of Eagle Grove where she spent the remainder of her childhood. She attended a rural one-room school through eighth grade, skipping ahead two grade levels in the process. She then attended Eagle Grove High School and graduated in 1944 at the early age of 16. Jane exhibited a talent for music at an early age and became proficient at piano and clarinet. After graduation, she attended the St. Louis Institute of Music to further her musical education in piano.
In 1944, Jane entered Iowa State College and graduated in 1948 with a degree in chemistry education. During the summer of 1946, she asked her chemistry professor if he might have a job for her washing laboratory equipment. The professor said he could find a better job based on her qualifications. This job was with the Ames Project, which was part of the Manhattan Project. When she was a junior, she met her future husband, Ken. Ken was a freshman at ISC after serving in the army during WW II. They were married in 1948 at the Methodist Church in Eagle Grove. After marriage, they settled in Ames. Jane took a job as a chemistry teaching assistant at ISC while Ken finished college. In 1950, Ken had the opportunity to farm with his uncle, so they moved to Newell, where they lived for the next 69 years until they moved to Sun City, Ariz., in 2019.
Jane taught English and math for two years at Newell Community School in the early 1950s. She later taught chemistry at Sac City High School for 20 years, retiring in 1986. While at Newell, Jane was active in Eastern Star, Congregational Church activities and positions and the Newell-Providence High School Band Parents Association.
Her children vividly remember that Jane maintained a large garden that everyone got to help with planting, harvesting, canning or freezing of produce. For several years, Jane also had the major responsibility of taking care of the farm and raising a family while Ken attended summer school to obtain his master’s degree.
Due to rheumatoid arthritis, Jane and Ken became snowbirds and traveled to Sun City, Ariz., every winter from 1986-2019, when they became permanent residents of Arizona. They enjoyed making new friends and participating in activities at Paradise RV Resort. During her retirement, Jane was never happier than when they were traveling in the RV throughout the United States (including Alaska), Canada and Mexico. They also enjoyed trips to Europe, Brazil, Central America, Australia and New Zealand.
Jane is survived by three children: Keith Anderson of Tucson, Ariz.; Larry (Rose) Anderson of Ames; Carmen Burton of Sun City, Ariz.; four grandchildren: Stacy Anderson of Story City; Rae (Mike) Skow of Hilliard, Fla.; TJ (Meaghan) Anderson of Bondurant; and Austin Burton of East Moline, Ill.; two great-granddaughters, Gabrielle and Blair Anderson of Bondurant; and sister Mary (Harvey) Folkerts of Rochelle, Ill.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ken; her parents; and infant son Bruce.
