Ardis Louise Anderson

Ardis Anderson, daughter of Frank and Barbara Shepperd Bailey, was born September 6, 1929 at the home of her grandparents near Atlantic, Iowa and passed away April 3, 2021 peacefully with her family by her side. She attended rural school, graduated as Valedictorian from Atlantic High School in 1946 and attended Iowa State College (ISU). She met Earl Anderson on a blind date to her first college football game and they were married in Atlantic on June 12, 1948.

The couple lived in Southwest Iowa, moved to their first home in Des Moines in 1951, to rural Van Meter, Iowa in 1974 and finally to Edgewater Retirement Community in West Des Moines in 2009.

She was a Life Member of the Girl Scouts, serving as a leader and in various capacities on the Board of Directors of Moingona Council for 20 years, receiving the Girl Scout Thanks Badge. She was a sheep producer for 20 years and honored as an Iowa Master Lamb Producer. She joined The Questers in 1972 and served eight years on The International Board and two as International President of the organization. She was a member of the Council of Ministries at Van Meter United Methodist Church and found her passion as chairman of the Missions Committee.

Her church and her family were the most important things in her life. She and her husband were married for 67 years and enjoyed traveling to many foreign countries. They camped as their family was growing up and enjoyed backpacking. Ardis loved fishing for everything from blue gills to lake trout and salmon.

She is survived by her sons, David (Marilyn) Anderson and Roger (Cindy) Anderson both of Van Meter, daughters, Joyce Anderson of Cedar Rapids and Maribeth (Bruce) Cannavaro of Port Townsend, WA, and nine grandchildren, four step grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, an infant brother, a sister, a brother and a grandson.

Visitation with the family present will be Sunday, April 11, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home- McCalley Chapel in Adel. Following the visitation, the memorial service will begin at 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A private family burial will take place Monday April 12, 2021 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, near Van Meter. Due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic all attendees are requested to wear facial coverings.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Van Meter United Methodist Church at 100 Hazel St., P.O. Box 149, Van Meter, Iowa 50261 or to The Questers, Grants Fund, 210 South Quince St., Philadelphia, PA 19107. Online condolences may be left at www.caldwellparrish.com.