Margaret Ann Andersen

Margaret Ann Andersen, the daughter of Vernon and Cora (Roe) Swolley, was born November 5, 1939, at the Atlantic Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa and died November 30, 2020, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 81 years and 25 days.

Margaret was baptized into the Baptist church. She attended Atlantic Community Schools in Atlantic. In June of 1955, she was united in marriage to Stanley Paulson in Atlantic. The couple was blessed with two daughters: Julie and Tammy. While married to Stanley, she worked as a waitress in several local cafes. Then, in 1971 Stan passed away. She continued to work in food service until receiving her Certified Nurse’s Aide Certificate in 1973.

In 1975, she married Richard A. Andersen, and they made their home in Brayton, Iowa. She was employed at the Exira Care Center in Exira as a CNA. She also worked at J.R.’s Bar and Grill in Brayton for several years. She continued to work for the Exira Care Center until she was forced to retire in August of 2013 due to her failing health. In September of 2016, Margaret and Richard moved into the Exira Care Center. Richard died May 11, 2017. Margaret continued to enjoy her home at the Exira Care Center until the end of her life.

Margaret was a collector of many knick-knacks, with angels being a favorite. In her spare time, she enjoyed embroidering and loved playing cards; you could often find her playing Solitaire on the computer. Margaret always cherished her time with her family, especially with her grandchildren and could not wait for the holidays when the whole family could get together at their house, no matter how small their home was.

Preceding her in death were her husbands, Stanley Paulson and Richard A. Andersen; her step-son, Ricky Lee Andersen; her daughter-in-law, Dorci Andersen; her parents; her brother and sisters: Carol Jayne, Sandra Swolley, Karen Johnson, Chris Freeland, Bill Swolley, Mary Swolley, Linda VanVoltenberg, and Betty White; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Survivors include her children: Julie Paulson of Exira, Tammy Paulson-Clark and husband Bill of Exira, Rex Andersen of Brayton, Jim Andersen and wife Bobbi of Exira, Sally Smith of Exira, and Richard D. Andersen of Indiana; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her sisters: Nancy Wills and husband Tom of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Donna Cline of Iowa City, Iowa; and Cathy Zimmerman of Columbus, Nebraska; her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Glen Ginrerich of Wellman, Iowa; Bertha Schroeter of Exira; and Harvey Andersen of Exira; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A graveside funeral service will be held on Friday, December 4, 2020, at 1:30 P.M. at the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery west of Exira with Pastor Joshua Farrell of the First Baptist Church in Brayton officiating. Interment will be in the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery. There will be a viewing on Thursday, December 3rd from 12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., with a prayer service at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira. The family may not be present during the viewing hours. Masks will be required for the viewing and the service due to the new Covid-19 restrictions. The honorary casket bearers will be: Christopher Andersen, Travis Frederiksen, Brian Andersen, Anthony Smith, Andrew Smith, Michael Clark, Kayler Paulson, Skylar Traver, Kane Sorensen, Lucas Schrier, Logan Schrier, and Andrew Steen. The Kessler Funeral Home in Exira is in charge of her arrangements.