Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
IRONWOOD, Mich. - Mary Jo Anderson, 81, of Ironwood, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.
Mary Jo was born on Feb. 23, 1942, in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, to Joseph and Agnes (Dewing) Zuiker. She graduated from high school in 1960. While growing up, Mary Jo worked at the A&W Root Beer stand and the Tomahawk Hospital.
She moved to Milwaukee/Shorewood, Wisconsin, where she worked for the Badger Bearing Company. Mary Jo met her future husband, Michael Anderson, at Buddy Beaks Bar in Shorewood. She and Michael were married on April 24, 1965, at Bethany Lutheran Church. They had three children and decided to make their home in Ironwood.
Mary Jo worked at Armour Foods, Ben Franklin Store and retired from the Veterans Counseling Center for Gogebic County. She was very active in her church, Trinity Lutheran in Ironwood. She belonged to several groups, with the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) being her favorite. Her numerous friends were mostly from there. Her faith in Jesus and the Christian Church were very important to her and her husband. Michael and her children were always her first priority.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Helen; and a brother, James.
Mary Jo is survived by her husband, Michael; three children, Pete (Lisa Close), Beth (Scott) Rodenhuis and Paula (Dan) Scholten; two grandchildren, Sam and Tony Scholten; a sister, Jane (Jim) VanBennekom; a brother, Robert (Pat) Zuiker; and her best friend of more than 60 years, Lois Grosse, of Shorewood.
A private service was held on Oct. 28, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ironwood. The Rev. Timothy J. Steckling officiated.
The family of Mary Jo would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community for their compassionate and professional care and the kindnesses they extended for the previous three years.
Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, assisted the family. To send online condolences, please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com.
