Mary "Molly" Louise Andersen

Mary “Molly” Louise (Anderson) Andersen, 102, of Marion, Iowa, passed away surrounded by her loving family and friends, on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Terrace Glen Village in Marion. Molly donated her body to the University of Iowa Body Donation Program. A Private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date with Private Inurnment at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.

Molly was born on November 18, 1922, in Keokuk, Iowa, the daughter of Frank Israel and Amy Russell (Parsons) Anderson.

Survived by her children, Mark Andersen, Julie (Mike) Young, Leslie (Joe) Parker; six grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard “Dick” Andersen; brother, Frank (Margaret) Anderson, and their oldest son, Brian.

During the war, she served as a Red Cross Humanitarian Aide at the University. She graduated from Keokuk High School and Grinnell College and went to Iowa City to work in the Registrar’s Office. She and Dick married at Iowa City Methodist Church on January 29, 1949, and moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to start Insect Control Specialists. Molly retired the next year to have children. During those years, she was active in the PTA, Blue Birds, Boy Scouts, 4H, volunteer reading coaching, and served on the Red Cross Board of Cedar Rapids for a short time. They kept horses for the girls, hunting dogs, and always one cat.

When Molly was 50, the office manager of the company retired, and Molly took the job. She joined the Board of Marion Public Library, where she served for 42 years. Retirement came at 70, Dick died, and two years later, she started to travel all over the world and paint watercolors. She had no particular favorite country but liked all the people: “They are nicer than we are.” She had donated her house and yard to the city for historical purposes. In the future, the lot will become Pin Oak Park. She gardened wildflowers in a woodsy area, flowering bushes which became very large, apple trees, perennials, a very mature Pin Oak tree, and one Red Oak in a bed of hostas. Molly read widely, trying to keep up with scientific ideas, grandchildren, and the Greats.

The family would like to thank all of you.

She will miss the family, the horses, the dogs, the cats, and the friends of her life. La Di Dah.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Molly’s name may be directed to a charity of the donor’s choice.