Edith Anderson

MADISON - Edith L. "Sue" Anderson, age 91, passed away on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, in Madison. She was born on Dec. 13, 1923, in Prentice, Wisconsin, the daughter of Fred and Ethel (Thornton) Shelhamer. Growing up on the East side, Sue attended Sunnyside School and graduated from East High School in 1942. She first attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Engineering and later went back to the study Landscape Architecture. Sue worked in the control room at WHA Radio, with her future husband. She loved helping people and plants grow; from raising five children, taking in foster infants, being an aide at Longfellow school, planning activities at Allen Hall convalescent center to opening Anderson’s Garden Center in Verona in the early 70’s and selling perennials and Pagoda dogwoods from the start of the Dane County Farmer’s Market for 30 years. Sue enjoyed talking to the people more than selling her famous burgundy and yellow primroses but used the income to finance another interest. She spent hours at Sequoia Library studying the stock market and even amazed her accountant with her expertise. Sue’s love of travel took her across the U.S. visiting friends and family and in 1998 to Japan. She was involved in many church activities ranging from teaching Sunday school to Women’s Organizations. In later years, spending time with her great-grandchildren was one of her special joys. Sue is survived by her daughter, Linda (Dennis) Brager; her sons, David (April), Jim (Janet), and Karl; her grandsons, Michael (Candi) Alexander, Matthew (Sheri) Alexander, Brian, Peter, Bill and Andy Anderson; her great-grandchildren Ben and Zoe Alexander, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded by her husband of 52 years, Lawrence "Andy"; her daughter Barbara, her brothers, Loren (Geraldine) Shelhamer of Sun Prairie and Gordon (Donna) Shelhamer of Stoughton; and her sister, lone "Jean" (George) Parks of Cottage Grove. Sue’s family wishes to thank the staff at Oakwood Covenant Oaks for their loving care over the past few years and Agrace HospiceCare for helping make her passing a peaceful journey. A Service of Remembrance will be held at TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 1123 Vilas Avenue, Madison, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. Her family invites all who knew her to attend. This will be followed by a light lunch. Burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.