Margaret Mae Anderson, 79, of Wilton went home to her Lord on Monday, July 28, 2014.
She was born Sept. 22, 1934, near Hillsboro to Joseph F. and Myrtle M. (Crouch) Norwalk. She grew up in Hillsboro and was a 1952 graduate of Hillsboro High School.
On Feb. 14, 1953, she was united in marriage to Norman W. (Andy) Anderson and moved to the Anderson family farm just outside of Wilton, where she would make her home for the next 39 years. In 1992, she and her husband moved to the village of Wilton, where she resided at the time of her death.
After spending the first few years of her married life as a stay-at-home mom, she began a 35-year career in the Royall School District, beginning as an aide in the Wilton Grade School and then secretary at the Kendall Elementary and Elroy Primary Schools, retiring in 2007. She was a faithful member of the Faith Congregational (former Methodist) Church in Wilton for more than 60 years and served her church in many capacities.
Sewing, cake decorating, bowling, card games with friends, reading and growing flowers were some of the many activities she enjoyed during her lifetime. She was passionate about sports and was an avid Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packer fan. She played softball in high school, and, for a time years later, she played on a summer ladies softball league in Wilton, where she was affectionately known by her teammates as “Ma.”
Some of her greatest joys in life were watching her children and grandchildren grow up. She loved attending their sporting events, concerts and sharing the milestone events of their lives, graduations, weddings and the birth of each new grandchild or great-grandchild.
She was no stranger to sorrow or pain. She lost her mother as a young girl and her only sister as a young woman. She underwent a number of surgeries during her lifetime, yet rarely complained and relied on her faith in the Lord to sustain her during those times. Back problems and arthritis during many of the last years of her life often caused pain with every step she took. Yet she continued to press on, usually with a limp, most always with a smile.
Her greatest legacy is her complete and unshakeable faith in her Lord. No matter how hard the struggle, how great the pain or how deep the sorrow, she replied on Him to help her through, with the knowledge that these things would pass and brighter days and joys would follow.
She leaves to carry on her legacy two daughters, Vickie (Larry) Ross of Wilton and Kathy (Dwayne) Hefner of Wilton, and her three sons, Ron Anderson of Beloit, Bob (Debbie) Anderson of Wilton and Randy (Kim) Anderson of Elroy. She is further survived by her 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; her stepbrother, Lowell (Linda) North of Hillsboro; her brothers- and sisters-in-law; and numerous nieces, and nephews, other relatives and friends.
Margaret was preceded in death by her mother, Myrtle, in 1946; her sister, Marceda, in 1968; her father-in-law, Herbert, in 1989; her father, Joseph, in 1998; her stepmother, Evelyn, in 2000; and her beloved husband, Norman, in 2006.
A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Faith Congregational Church, 502 Enderby St., Wilton. Pastor Ben Janzen will officiate. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at the church from 4-7 p.m. Thursday and from 12 p.m. until the time of service Friday. The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home in Wilton is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
