Judith Anderson

A memorial service for Judith Anderson of Norfolk, NE, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 21, 2024, at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk, NE, which is in charge of arrangements. Burial will take place at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk at a later date.

Judy was born January 29, 1947, the third of six children born to Harold and Doris Shaffer, in Gregory, SD.

She attended all her school years in Gregory and enjoyed spending time in the 4-H Club and being a drummer in the high school marching band. Upon graduation from high school, she attended Springfield College in Springfield, SD, before following Gaylard, to Norfolk, NE. They married on June 11, 1967, and welcomed the first of their children, Anthony, while living in Norfolk.

The family moved to Manhattan, KS, five years later so that Gayal could attend Kansas State University and welcomed their second child, Jamie, to the family. They moved back to Norfolk five years later, and their third child, Jennifer, was born.

Judy and Gayal were lifelong Norfolk residents from that point on. Judy kept busy raising their three children full time, along with three foreign exchange students and over 40 foster children over the years. She poured herself into making her house a loving home for every child who entered it. She enjoyed being a part of the PTA and spending time with her bible study groups. After raising her children, Judy enjoyed many different jobs in the area, with Target being her favorite. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her whole family looked forward to going to Grandma Judy’s house for the Fourth of July, when she and Gayal would have plenty of homemade ice-cream ready to enjoy after the fireworks. Her true gift was generosity, and it brought her much joy to find a child at a store and hand them a little money so that they could buy that toy that they were gazing at.

Judith Elaine Anderson, age 77, of Norfolk, NE, passed away at Heritage of Bel Air Nursing Home on December 4, 2024.

She was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Doris Shaffer; her father- and mother-in-law Donald and Esther Anderson; daughter Jennifer Anderson; grandson Nicholas Kroeger; brother Hal Shaffer; sister-in-law Lennie Anderson; and great-grandson Zayden Wichman.

Judy is survived by her husband of 57 years, Gayal Anderson; son Anthony (Tracy) Anderson and daughter Jamie (Jim) Wichman, all of Norfolk; bonus daughter Brandi Wagner of Pine Haven, WY; brothers Gaile Shaffer of Omaha, NE, Bruce (Alice) Shaffer of Gregory, SD, Les (Sherri) Shaffer of Gregory, SD; sister Mavis Leiferman of Gregory, SD; brothers-in-law Joe (Val) Anderson of Mills, NE, Randy (Sue) Anderson of Colorado Springs, CO, and Tim (Denise) Anderson of Twin Valley, MN; and sister-in-law Vivian Shaffer of Yankton, SD; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.