Marguerite Anderson

Marguerite Anderson was a mother whose compassion shone in many forms. She tried to bring the best out of each of her loved ones, leading them by example in matters of faith, honesty and unconditional love. Marguerite was a strong and giving lady who found the greatest happiness in the presence of her family.

The "Roaring Twenties" was a fantastic period in our nation's history, where the sounds of progress could be heard in every city across America. It was the birthplace of Jazz, the golden age of industry and above all, a time of plenty. Marguerite Estelle Tuck entered this bustling world on May 29, 1921, in Loganville, Georgia, to proud parents, Seabron Arnold Tuck and Estelle (Still) Tuck. It just so happened that Seabron was a doctor, so he was the one to deliver Marguerite at home, and happily welcome her into the world. Before he was a doctor, though, Seabron worked in the fields with the sharecroppers. The family often visited his parents on their cotton farm.

Marguerite spent her growing up years in a close-knit community in Virginia. Her father was the "country doctor" of their town and Marguerite loved to tag along with him when he made house calls. It was her job to open and close the driveway gates at the houses for her Dad, and while he made his visit, she would bide her time sitting in a cherry tree, helping herself to a snack. When the stock market crashed, the family struggled along with the rest of the country to make ends meet. Her father began being paid in kind for his services by the townspeople. But for Marguerite, growing up in the depression was nothing out of the ordinary. As a teenager, things like making fudge, eating grilled cheese sandwiches and dancing to the latest and greatest hits on the radio was all it took for her to have fun.

Marguerite graduated from high school and went on to earn a degree in Foods and Nutrition at Mary Washington College in 1942. It was while at college that Marguerite met the love of her life, Stanley Anderson in Norfolk, VA when he was stationed there in the Navy. They had been dating for a while when Stan entered the military and was sent to serve on a transport ship in Okinawa in the South Pacific. Meanwhile, Marguerite started her first job out of college at the Kings Daughters Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. Although Stan was many miles from home, Marguerite was continually on his mind. After his honorable discharge in 1946, he went home to see his family then headed to Pembroke, Virginia to propose to his Marguerite. After asking her parents for Marguerite's hand in marriage, her mother strangely told Stan to go home and come back in a month. Promptly, a month later, Stan came back and he and Marguerite had an intimate wedding on March 23, 1946, at her parents' home in Pembroke.

After a romantic honeymoon in Virginia, the newlyweds moved to Stan's hometown of Minneapolis, where they settled into married life together. Over the next few years, the couple was blessed with two wonderful children, Craig and Karen. Wanting to give their children a stable home life, they put down roots in Durand, Wisconsin, where they lived for 40 years. After her children were older, Marguerite went to work with the Department of Education and Welfare, training dietary technicians so the hospital could qualify for the new Medicare compensations. At first, Marguerite viewed this job as being temporary, but in the end she invested 15 years in this career. In addition to teaching, she was also instrumental in helping to establish federal guidelines for the hospitals as well as implementing standardized procedures throughout. Marguerite later left the Dept. and became an independent consultant and dietician in Western Central, Wisconsin.

After Marguerite lost her beloved husband Stan in 1997, and entered retirement, she decided to move closer to her daughter in Holland, Michigan. Once settled, Marguerite became a cherished member of Hope Church. She was at home among the congregation, which she described as being wonderful, friendly, sincere and helpful. Throughout her life, Marguerite considered her family to be her greatest gift and blessing. She was very close with all of them and enjoyed returning to her home in Pembroke for a visit. In her leisure time, Marguerite enjoyed listening to music by Glenn Miller and Billy Joel. Her favorite song was "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller. A kid at heart, she liked watching the Lion King, yet on the other hand she was very intellectual and well read, especially on international issues. She had a real thirst for knowledge and diverse opinions on a variety of subjects.

But above all else, Marguerite loved being a wife, mother and grandmother to the people who brought her life joy. She instilled in their hearts the importance of family, the dignity of life and how to love. Although Marguerite will be deeply missed, her legacy of love and dedication leaves her loved ones with cherished memories and a strong foundation to look to for comfort.

Marguerite E. Anderson, age 84 of Holland, MI, died Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at The Inn at Freedom Village. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley, and daughter-in-law, Patricia Anderson, in 2004. Surviving are her children: Craig Tuck Anderson of West Des Moines, IA, and Karen Van Doorne-Nagelkirk and her husband, Michael Nagelkirk, of Holland; 5 grandchildren; brother, Seab and Lou Tuck of Fairview, TN; sister, Carolyn Benfield, of Elizabethton, TN; brother-in-law, Joe Johnson of Fort Meyers, FL; and nephews, nieces and cousins. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 22, at Hope Church, 77 West 11th Street, with the Rev. Kathryn Davelaar officiating. Burial will be in Crystal Lake Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Visitation will follow the service at the church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory or sign the online guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Holland. Arrangements are by the Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes-Downtown Chapel, 29 East 9th Street.