Obituaries: Estelle "Jonni" Anderson

Estelle "Jonni" Anderson died peacefully on Sunday, March 21, 2021, with family by her side. She lived with dementia for many years and, after quite a fight, succumbed to the final stages.

Jonni was born July 4, 1937, to Claudia Panger and Irving "Squint" Johnson. She married the love of her life, Bill Anderson, on Oct. 6, 1956. They had five children together. They divorced and after several years of a marital hiatus, remarried Jan. 12, 1991. Jonni worked continually while raising her children: at Pittsburgh Paints and Glass, Roy's Service Center, providing childcare, as an educational aide, and retiring after many years as a financial aid worker for Carlton County Health and Human Services.

Jonni was a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church. She was an avid reader and made weekly trips to the library. She loved music and was a soloist for weddings and funerals in her younger years. Jonni enjoyed playing the piano and we all recall gathering around the piano singing Christmas carols or a song from her childhood which could always move us to tears.

She was generous and always gave to her family, community, church, students, clients, and welcomed anyone to her family holiday gatherings. In her later years, she gave coins or dollars to random young children she saw in restaurants or stores.

During the past year, due to restrictions from Covid-19, she could not be out in her community. Still, she and Dad insisted candy be available to give to the faithful staff at Evergreen Knoll.

Jonni was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Steve "Irving" "Eddie" and Brad Johnson; and son-in-law, Steven Johnson. Jonni is survived by and will be sadly missed by her husband, Bill (William); sons, Billy, Blake (Karin Hussey), and Chad (Linda); daughters Robin Johnson and Ricky (Mike) Edwards; former daughter-in-law, Amy Dahlen Anderson; sister, Barbara (David) Knecht; and sisters-in-law, Lois Johnson and Linda Johnson; grandchildren, Tyler (Megan), Jenna (Andrew), Anna, Eddie, Ashlee, Billie, and Kaylee; great-grandchildren, Becket, Carter, Calvin, and Colby; and many nieces and nephews.

Jonni's family would like to thank Evergreen Knoll for the wonderful care and friendship Jonni received for almost two years, and St. Croix Hospice for the care and assistance as Mom's physical body gave out and her spirit and soul moved on to meet those gone before. If desired, memorials may be made to Queen of Peace Catholic Church or the Alzheimer's Association.

Service: 3 p.m. March 26 at Nelson Funeral Care with a visitation an hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be held in New Calvary Cemetery.

Pine Knot News, March 26, 2021