Mary Nell Patterson Anderson, 83, of Delavan, died Aug. 18, 2015, at Vintage on the Ponds in Delavan.
She was born July 8, 1932, in Milton, Fla., to Merle and Margaret (Lynn) Patterson. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where her father was a firefighter and later battalion chief for the Columbus Fire Department.
She graduated from Linden- McKinley High School in Columbus in 1950 where she was involved in various activities and was a drum majorette. She attended Ohio State University. She worked as a secretary for various companies and an office manager for an orthodontist, and was an aide at Delavan-Darien schools helping children learn to read.
Mary Nell enjoyed reading, dancing and playing bridge. She was a member of United Church of Christ, Monday Club and Friends of the Aram Public Library. She also served as a board member for the National Kidney Foundation of Southeastern Wisconsin, delivered Meals on Wheels, and, for many years, collected aluminum pull-tabs in support of the Ronald McDonald House.
She married W. Dean Anderson on Oct. 10, 1953, in Columbus, Ohio, where Dean was stationed in the U.S. Air Force. Over the years, the couple lived in Elkhorn and Greendale, and Forrest Park, Clarendon Hills, St. Charles, and Sleepy Hollow, Ill., before moving back to Delavan in 1982. They also spent several winters in southern Texas.
Mary Nell is survived by her husband of 61 years, Dean; children, Timothy W. (Patricia) Anderson, of Fort Collins, Colo., and Karen (Daniel) Bernick, of Long Grove, Iowa; grandchildren, Brandon Anderson, of Muskego, Brittney Anderson, of Milwaukee, James and Jon Anderson, of San Francisco, and Hope Bernick, of Long Grove, Iowa; her brother, William James (Linda) Patterson, of Columbus, Ohio; sister-in-law, Betty Schalmo, of Delavan; brother-in-law, Chuck Anderson, of San Benito, Texas.; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Mary Nell is preceded in death by her parents; and her oldest son, Richard Dean.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Delavan United Church of Christ Congregational. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Friends of Aram Library in care of the Aram Public Library in Delavan, or United Church of Christ Scholarship Fund, 123 E. Washington St., Delavan.
Monroe Funeral Home is assisting the family.
