Theresa Anderson
Theresa Elizabeth Anderson was called to Jesus July 24, 2025. A funeral mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon and burial of ashes at Mt. Olivet Cemetery will be scheduled for this fall.
Theresa was born to Aloysius “Louis” and Sarah Wetzel in Cincinnati, OH December 9, 1921. She was the fifth child in a family of 11 brothers and sisters. Her patron saint was Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, known as the “little flower”.
She attended the Regina all girls Catholic high school. After high school she worked in different businesses in Cincinnati, one of which was P. Goldsmith Sporting Goods which manufactured baseballs, gloves, and shoes, and also golf clubs. In 1942 she asked her father if she could move to Miami to live with a girlfriend, and her father said, “You are 21, you can do anything that you wish.”
Theresa had gotten a job with Pan-American Airways working in an engineering department. It was later during WWII in Miami where she met a young naval aviator, Paul Anderson, who was training at the Miami Naval Air Station. World War II ended before Paul was deployed to the Pacific, and the two married in Cincinnati November 24, 1945 and moved to Waukon.
While Paul worked in the family business, Theresa was a homemaker and raised four children. She was very devout in her faith at St. Patrick’s Parish in Waukon. She was active in the Council of Catholic Women. She enjoyed her women’s golf group.
After retiring, Paul and Theresa spent winters in Florida and eventually moved there full time. Together, Paul and Theresa operated Green Valley Golf Course in the summers until 1989. Theresa loved her Green Valley “golfers” and loved sports in general. In her 80s she became a big Tampa Bay fan, both football and baseball. It was rare for her to miss a game on the television. At 92 her daughters took her to a Mother’s Day baseball game in Tampa!
Theresa loved travel. Paul had taken her on trips including Europe and Hawaii. In her later years she was able to travel to see family and also cruise to Alaska. Most of all, she loved her trip to the Holy Land with her Florida parishioners at St. Benedict’s Parish in Crystal River, FL. She always held dear the friendships she made on that trip.
Her fondness of piano and music kept her days filled. In her younger years she loved learning to play the organ at St. Patrick’s Church. In her 90s she published a small booklet of poetry that she set to music and gave them to her friends and family. Although she lost most of her sight, she continued to play her piano until her last days. Two of her favorite tunes were the “Entertainer” and also Paul’s favorite, “Danny Boy”!
Her love for family, friends, and strangers was unbounded.
Theresa is survived by a sister, Angela; her daughters, Susan (Mark Stapels) McCollough of Crystal River, FL and Nancy Nissen of Beverly Hills, FL; her son, Steven (Kathryn Emorey) Anderson of Bettendorf; 15 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul D. Anderson; her son, Lawrence J. Anderson; her parents; and nine brothers and sisters.
