Obituary for Judith Marie "Judy" Anderson (Espeland)
Judith Marie (Espeland) Anderson, 75, of Deephaven passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, on the Fourth of July. After a courageous and difficult six year cancer journey, bravely fighting each day to share her life and love with family and dear friends, Judy is finally at peace. Beloved wife, mother, and nana, Judy will be dearly missed and always remembered.
Mom was born in Granite Falls, Minnesota on June 21, 1947. She loved growing up in a small town, playing with neighborhood friends, fishing and swimming with her siblings at Aunt Mabel’s cottage on Leaf Lake. Daughter to two teachers, Judy was a good student, cheerleader, and played the clarinet. As a high school senior, she was voted homecoming queen, and represented her home town in the Minneapolis Aquatennial parade. Cat eye glasses and sweater sets accessorized her signature smile and laugh.
Judy attended college at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1969 with a degree in physical therapy. She met her husband, John, on a rainy Saturday under a shared umbrella at a football game. They were married in 1970 and recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2020. Limited to a small family gathering during the pandemic, countless loved ones sent recorded greetings and renditions of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” in celebration of their life together. Mom always lamented that Dad never formally proposed. A few days before she passed, John got down on one knee and asked the big question. “Yes” was one of her last spoken words.
Judy worked as a physical therapist at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN and St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sioux City, IA, before dedicating herself as mother and grandmother. She was active as a volunteer at Breck School, Minnetonka Schools, Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, Ronald McDonald House, American Cancer Society, Fairview Hospital Foundation, Art Center of Minnesota, Junior League, and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Judy loved to read, notably favorite authors Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy. Traveling and playing cards with friends. Movies and knitting in the family room. Countless hours in the garden, tending to her peonies and heirloom tomatoes.
Most of all, Judy loved her family. She was our foundation, loving and supporting all of us unconditionally and ferociously. Mom was predeceased by her parents, Leonard and Delores Espeland. Survived by her husband, John Anderson, children, David Anderson (wife, Stephanie), Matt Anderson (wife, Liz), and Katie (Anderson) Smith (husband, Scott), brother Michael Espeland, sister Nancy (Espeland) Young, and eight beloved grandchildren, Emily, Molly, Josie, Jack, Jude, Tyler, Cora, and Crosby.
Please join us in honoring Judy at a Celebration of Life gathering later in the summer, further details to be shared in the near future. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation.
Huber Funeral & Cremation Services
Excelsior Chapel 952-474-9595
Mom was born in Granite Falls, Minnesota on June 21, 1947. She loved growing up in a small town, playing with neighborhood friends, fishing and swimming with her siblings at Aunt Mabel’s cottage on Leaf Lake. Daughter to two teachers, Judy was a good student, cheerleader, and played the clarinet. As a high school senior, she was voted homecoming queen, and represented her home town in the Minneapolis Aquatennial parade. Cat eye glasses and sweater sets accessorized her signature smile and laugh.
Judy attended college at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1969 with a degree in physical therapy. She met her husband, John, on a rainy Saturday under a shared umbrella at a football game. They were married in 1970 and recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2020. Limited to a small family gathering during the pandemic, countless loved ones sent recorded greetings and renditions of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” in celebration of their life together. Mom always lamented that Dad never formally proposed. A few days before she passed, John got down on one knee and asked the big question. “Yes” was one of her last spoken words.
Judy worked as a physical therapist at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN and St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sioux City, IA, before dedicating herself as mother and grandmother. She was active as a volunteer at Breck School, Minnetonka Schools, Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, Ronald McDonald House, American Cancer Society, Fairview Hospital Foundation, Art Center of Minnesota, Junior League, and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Judy loved to read, notably favorite authors Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy. Traveling and playing cards with friends. Movies and knitting in the family room. Countless hours in the garden, tending to her peonies and heirloom tomatoes.
Most of all, Judy loved her family. She was our foundation, loving and supporting all of us unconditionally and ferociously. Mom was predeceased by her parents, Leonard and Delores Espeland. Survived by her husband, John Anderson, children, David Anderson (wife, Stephanie), Matt Anderson (wife, Liz), and Katie (Anderson) Smith (husband, Scott), brother Michael Espeland, sister Nancy (Espeland) Young, and eight beloved grandchildren, Emily, Molly, Josie, Jack, Jude, Tyler, Cora, and Crosby.
Please join us in honoring Judy at a Celebration of Life gathering later in the summer, further details to be shared in the near future. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation.
Huber Funeral & Cremation Services
Excelsior Chapel 952-474-9595