Johanna "Jo" Anderson, 86, of Allen died Monday, May 22, 2017, at Mitchell Manor Convalescent Home in McAlester.
Born in Liegnitz, Germany, Mrs. Anderson attended high school and vocational school in Germany. She was a member of the German-American Club in Davenport, Iowa.
After marrying Tom Anderson in 1956 in Landshut, Germany, they lived at various military posts in Germany, Texas and Kentucky before settling in Iowa in 1971. They moved from Camanche, Iowa, to Allen, Oklahoma, Mr. Anderson’s home town, in 2002.
She was accomplished at sewing, knitting, crocheting and needlework, selling her creations at craft fairs under the name “Afghans by Johanna” and giving them away as gifts that are still enjoyed by family and friends.
An excellent cook, her specialties were traditional German meals and many different kinds of soup. Her love for animals, especially dogs, was well known, and she always had at least one pet. She loved playing cards and board games, word-find puzzles, German music and polka dancing, wearing her traditional German dirndl, singing along to German folk songs, and travelling back to Germany whenever possible to visit her Mom “Mutti” and Dad “Vati,” and other relatives.
She kept in touch with many lifelong friends, some who she had known for more than 60 years, calling them every year at Christmas. She enjoyed visiting her daughter and son-in-law in Michigan, going on cruises with her husband, and camping in their RV.
She had a sharp sense of humor and loved a good joke.
Her greatest love was her family, and she created a loving home filled with mementos from all the people she had known during her life. Her parting words to her husband, daughter, and son-in-law were always the same: "I love you, and be careful".
Survivors include her husband, Tom Anderson, daughter Linda Wood and her husband Mike Wood of Holland, Michigan, many cousins in Germany, and many in-laws, nieces and nephews in the Allen area and Texas.
A funeral and graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Allen Cemetery with the Rev. Buddy Drake officiating. Burial will be in Allen Cemetery.
Viewing will be at 4:00 p.m. Friday and 8:00 a.m. Saturday at Criswell Funeral Home chapel in Allen.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to Allen Nutrition Site, either by dropping off a donation in Allen, or mail to Allen Nutrition Site, c/o SONP, 918 South Chickasaw, Pauls Valley, OK 73075.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada, is handling arrangements.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
