Laurel E. Anderson

Laurel Elaine Anderson passed away on Saturday, September 28, after battling heart disease and lymphoma for almost 2 years. With a will of iron and a generous heart, she lived a dignified, virtuous and productive life for 84 years. Born to George and Ruth (Houle) McCoskey, on January 14, 1935, she attended Catholic grade school and high school in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. She loved playing the violin and softball in an empty lot with her siblings and neighborhood kids. She met and married Carsten David Anderson after he returned from the Korean War. She worked to help put him through veterinary medicine school at the University of Minnesota. Their first son, Mark Carsten Anderson was born in 1955. Laurel’s iron will helped them move from a mobile home to an on campus repurposed military quonset hut housing before winter. Jane Ruth Anderson was born in 1957 and Steven Paul Anderson in 1958.
Moving across Minnesota from Bemidji to Black Duck to Rochester with Carsten’s veterinary practice, Laurel created a safe and stable home for her brood of blue eyed, blond haired “Cookie Cutter” kids. Joseph George Anderson was born in Rochester in 1962, where the children continued the tradition of attending Catholic grade school and high school. She loved family camping and down hill ski trips. Laurel was generous to a fault, always supporting the needs and wants of others, placing them before her own ease and comfort.
Laurel was very close to her brothers and sisters. They loved to get together for family reunions and weddings. The siblings also gathered multiple times a year at each other’s homes. Equally dear, Laurel loved her grandchildren. Jane’s daughter’s Alexandra Jane from a previous marriage, and Brooke Lea with her husband Christopher Handler and Steve’s with wife Kerry Lynn, children Logan William, Sofia Lynn and Sonja Laurel.
The family moved to Green Bay, WI in 1973. One of Laurel’s first outings was to put the family on the waiting list for Packer season tickets. She understood what the family didn’t appreciate until the stadium expanded in 2003 and we all became season ticket holders.
After her youngest entered high school, Laurel also worked outside the home, advancing from entry-level office work to being secretary to the president of a major Green Bay corporation. She later more than held her own as a technical sales representative for several communication companies.
For fun, Laurel loved to play bridge, golf and cheer for the Packers and Brewers. She loved cheering her teams on and discussing player and coaching performance until her final days. She enjoyed retirement, taking classes in bridge and researching genealogy. She became a family historian and loved tracking down records and organizing the family photographs. She was always thinking about what her work would bring to others.
Laurel was recovering from surgery for heart disease when her daughter Jane began her battle with cancer. Soon after Laurel began her own battle with cancer. Mother and daughter went to chemo treatments together, with Jane helping her mom get back on her feet from both heart disease and cancer. Sadly, Jane’s cancer took her on Valentine’s Day of 2019. Laurel missed Jane immensely. Though always saying yes to the fight, Laurel was worn down. The family recognized her health was failing when she and several siblings enjoyed watching the Packer-Vikings game from mom’s living room instead of being in their seats at Lambeau. Her sons watched the Packer-Eagles game in a cancer ward. She passed away two days later, surrounded by children, grand children and siblings. After she had a day of visiting and listening to calls from siblings who couldn’t be there, she went with God at the end of the afternoon.
Laurel was preceded in death by her parents George and Ruth McCoskey, brother George “Bud” McCoskey, sister Mary and her husband Ken Espenes, former sister-in-law Millie (Jerome) McCoskey, husband Carsten Anderson (divorced) and daughter Jane (Christopher) Handler. She is survived by her sister Virginia Kiss (husband Larry deceased), sister JoAnne (husband Garland deceased), brother Richard and wife Audrie McCoskey, sister Annette (former husband Tom deceased) Burns, brother Jerome and wife Mary McCoskey, son Mark Anderson, son Steve and wife Kerry Anderson, son Joe (and fiancé Judy Knizewski) Anderson, son in law Christopher Handler and grandchildren Alexandra, Brooke, Logan, Sofia and Sonja.
May the soul of Laurel Elaine Anderson and all the departed Rest in Peace.

Family and friends may visit at Resurrection Catholic Church, 333 Hilltop Drive, Allouez, on Friday, October 4, from 10:30am until 12:15pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30pm with Fr. Tom Reynebeau officiating. Entombment in Allouez Chapel Mausoleum. Cotter Funeral and Cremation Care is assisting the family. Online condolences at www.cotterfuneralhome.com