Leona Mae Anderson, 93, of Oakland NE

Leona Mae Anderson of Oakland, NE entered the presence of her Lord and Shepherd, Jesus on Sunday, December 6, 2015 at the age of 93. She was born to Emil Axel and Edith Charlotte (Jepson) Wilson on their farm in Mead, NE. on August 26th, 1922. Leona was the fourth of five children, and was raised on the farm. She graduated from Mead High School in 1939. She attended Luther College in Wahoo and Kearney State Teachers College. She taught two years before marrying Sanford Anderson of Oakland onJune 24, 1944. They had four children; Sandra, Connie, Marcia and Mark.

For the majority of her life, she was a teacher while pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree from Midland College in Fremont, NE, then her Masters of Education Degree from the Univ. of Nebr. at Lincoln. In the year 2011, she was granted an Honorary Doctorate of Education Degree from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, IN. During her 33 years of teaching she was the first teacher in Nebraska to receive a Middle School Endorsement.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Sanford; her sisters, Mildred Wilson and Violet (Robbins) Smith; brother, Gilbert Wilson.

Leona is survived by her children, Sandra Anderson of Oakland, Connie (Merrill) McClatchey of Manhattan, KS, Marcia Anderson of Oakland, Mark (Zelda) Anderson of Ottumwa, IA; grandchildren, Andrea (Craig) Cline of Riley, KS, Michael Anderson of Iowa City, IA, JinHee Anderson of Ottumwa, IA; great grandchildren, Caden, Delaney, Ethan & Logan Cline; her sister, Luetta Sandquist of Lincoln, NE; her sisters-in-law, Verna Wilson of Charleston, IL, Corallie Anderson of Fremont.

Visitation will be held on Fri., Dec. 11th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland NE.

The Funeral Service is Sat., Dec. 12th at 10:00 a.m. at the First Evangelical Free Church in Oakland NE. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

Leona Anderson