Marguerite Anderson

Marguerite "Mick" Anderson, age 90, of Schaller, Iowa died Thursday, March 14, 2013 at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake, Iowa. Marguerite Darlene Martin was born January 19, 1923 in the family home in Schaller, Iowa. The daughter of Arthur Dess and Agnes Mae (Webster) Martin. She would be the fifth of eight children born to Arthur and Agnes Martin. Schaller was always home to Marguerite. Mick graduated from Schaller High School in 1941. She had fond memories of playing guard on the basketball team and the good times she had with teammates, many becoming her lifelong friends. After graduation Mick went to work for Dr. Potter, Schaller's Veterinarian who had an unusual office set-up; the office was split between the veterinarian practice and the locker plant. Mick worked in both areas. Mick later moved to Iowa City, following her dream and desire to be a nurse. She began nurses training but eventually (Feb.1944) she enlisted in the Navy Hospital Corp, achieving the status of pharmacist mate at Camp Pendleton, California (Her son, Tim, was eventually stationed there as well). Mick and her future husband, Darrell (Andy) met at Schaller High School, corresponded with each other while both were in the service, were discharged from service within a day of each other and began dating upon their return to Schaller. They were married on December 29th 1946. Early in 1946, Mick and her brother, Lloyd, bought Keenan's Cafe and renamed it Martin's Cafe. This began Mick's career as a "chef." When Mick married Andy she sold her portion of the cafe to Lloyd and moved to Kansas City where Andy went to radio repair school and Mick worked in a music store. But city life was not for the Anderson's and running a cafe was not the life Lloyd wanted, so the Anderson's returned to the small town they loved, bought the cafe from Lloyd and opened Andy's Cafe on September 8, 1947. It remained open under their management until 1989. Forty two years they worked together; 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. at times, Mick taking the early hours and Andy the late ones. Many relatives and friends earned their livelihood working at Andy's Cafe. Mick's mother, Aggie, greeted many early risers with her famous "What do you want!" phrase for many years. Many teenage girls had their first job at Andy's Cafe. Mick was described by one former waitress as "The best boss I ever had!" All the Anderson children also had the "opportunity" to learn the cafe business inside out; waitressing, bartending, stocking beer and pop, short-order cooking and learning how to make long john's, cinnamon rolls, and doughnuts. No one made long john's like Mick did. Rita tried when Mick had gall bladder surgery but failed according to the customers. Those same customers jokingly asked for a discount when they discovered a large "hole" inside their long john instead of dough. The cafe's other main attraction was Mick's spectacular candy case, an enjoyment for many Schallerites. Mick gave birth to three children- Rita, Candace, and Tim. Living in the apartment above the cafe was real entertainment for the kids from sliding down the wooden staircase on cardboard pieces to watching the carnival set up on main street during Popcorn Days. Mick was always involved in the community she loved. She was an EMT (1977-1989), coordinated the American Red Cross Blood drives for 22 years, provided Meals on Wheels, was involved in Eastern Star (1946-2012), chaired the Popcorn Queen committee for several years, taught Sunday School and was an active member of the United Methodist Women. She loved feeding "her birds" and the fat squirrel residing in the tree in the front yard never went without corn. Playing cards, especially solitaire in later years, watching Lawrence Welk and "her shows" on public television and enjoying the game show network became her hobbies. Playing bingo with her grandchildren during Popcorn Days was something she looked forward to also. Of course she loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren, traveling to Kansas and Minnesota to take in soccer games and attend school programs. Her "local grandchildren" saw her at many school events and they spent many hours with Mick and Andy as they grew up. Mick even attended a couple proms, for sure being the oldest attendee. Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Rita (John) Brown of Kenyon, Minnesota; Candace Anderson Dixon of Hutchinson, Kansas; grandchildren: Shannon (Terry) Pounds, Kelsey Brown, Erin (Andrew) Beer, Ian (Adriele) Dixon, Spencer Dixon, Mallory (Rick) Roling, Matt Anderson; great grandchildren: Brennan, Kieran, Roan, and Cael Pounds; Hayden Brown; brother, Charles (Marsha) Martin of Greeley, Colorado; sisters: Dorothy Lindstrom Bennett of Mesa, Arizona; Joan Martin of Schaller, Iowa; extended family and friends. Mick was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Andy; son, Tim D. â€œMacklinâ€ Anderson; brothers, Lloyd Martin and Lyle Martin; sisters, Berniece Bell and Edythe Blum-Crutchfield.

Marguerite Anderson

January 19, 1923 - March 14, 2013