Dorothy Anderson Obituary

Dorothy "Dot" Lila Anderson, 90, beloved wife, mother, sister, Nana and Great Nana, of Grinnell, IA died peacefully on Friday, August 22, 2025, at The Bird House – Hospice Home of Johnson County.

Dot was born in Alhambra, Illinois, on May 5, 1935. She was the daughter of Arthur and Mildred Suhre. She graduated from Highland High School in 1953 and Elmhurst College in 1958. Dot was united in marriage for nearly 67 years to Rev. Robert "Bob" Anderson, on July 26, 1958, in Alhambra, IL. They were blessed with two children, Terry and Heidi. She taught elementary school, and she served as a pastor's wife alongside Bob and congregations in Tulare, SD, St. Cloud, MN, Elburn, IL and was the Pastoral Administrator at United Church Residences in Downers Grove, IL.

She was a member of the Grinnell United Church of Christ Congregational and was a resident of the Mayflower Community. She enjoyed spending time with her family, baking, cooking, gardening, sewing, knitting and crocheting. She was an accomplished pianist, often playing hymns at church. She loved the St. Louis Cardinals from her childhood days. She was happiest when she could entertain family and friends. The cookie jar was never empty! Dot and Bob enjoyed traveling the world visiting the home countries of the many foreign exchange students that they hosted through the years. She never owned a dog, but loved her Grand dogs, spoiling them with treats.

She will be missed and is survived by son Terry (Terri) Anderson, Iowa City, IA, daughter Heidi Roberts of Fenton, MI, five grandchildren, Zack (Kimberly) Anderson, Amy (Dan) Kawa, Caitlin (Rian) Tatarcuk, Kelly (Josh) Ridenour, and Andrew (Naomi) Roberts, and seven great-grandchildren, Presley and Asher Anderson, Beckett and Cole Tatarcuk, Emerson and Caden Ridenour, and Miles Kawa, and her brother-in-law, Richard Anderson.

She was predeceased by her loving husband, Bob Anderson, parents, brother, Virgil Suhre, and son-in-law, Tom Roberts, and her Grand dogs Buck, Divot and Mac.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Grinnell United Church of Christ Congregational, 902 Broad St., Grinnell, IA 50112. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be designated to The Bird House – Hospice Home of Johnson County, Iowa City Hospice, or the Mayflower Human Needs Fund. Memorials may be directed to Lensing Funeral Home, P.O. Box 167, Iowa City, IA 52244, www.lensingfuneral.com.