Pearl Ester Anderson

MADISON - Pearl Ester (Peeper) Anderson, 91, peacefully passed away at home on Monday, June 20, 2022, after a long illness. She was born on March 21, 1931, in Otsego Township, to Waldemer and Amelia (Hummel).

Pearl grew up as the only girl in a strict German Lutheran household of five boys.

She would regale us with stories of her childhood, their close neighbors and rural life.

Pearl attended Columbus High School and lettered in Band (Trumpet). After High School, she attended Columbia County Teachers College, then went on to teach all grades at rural one room schools: Brace School (1 year), Bennett School (1 year), Ebenezer School near Portage (4years) and at LaFollette School near Keyeser (1.5 years). For many decades she enjoyed attending reunions of the Columbia County Teachers College.

While visiting a student in the hospital she met Richard Anderson. Pearl converted to Catholicism and they were married on May 19, 1956, at St Raphael Cathedral in Madison, Wis.

While teaching at LaFollette school she suffered a miscarriage and retired from teaching.

To help out with finances, she got a job with Dairy Equipment, UW Cancer Center, Graber’s (now Springs), and eventually at WPS where she retired in her 80s.

Her activities involved family, cooking, hunting, camping and fishing.

Pearl was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; parents, Wally and Amelia; brothers, Earl, Carl, Vern, William and George; sisters-in-law, Ruth (Carly), Ione (Vern) and Georgene (George); and nephews, Jeffery and Jay.

She is survived by her children, Ron (Becky), Deb, and Pat; grandson, Cory McCarthy; great-grandson, Jonny; and nieces and nephews, Bruce, Donna, Carrol, Karen and George.

A visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24, 2022.

In remembrance of Pearl’s life, the family requests that donations be made in her name to Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI 53711 www.agrace.org/donate.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420