Connie Andersen

***The slideshow and service recording is available below the obituary.***

Connie Andersen (known by most as Grandma Connie), 87, of Elk Horn, Iowa, passed Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

Connie Jo was born on May 3, 1938, in Atlantic, Iowa, the daughter of William Ray and Nona Myrl (Nelson) Palmer. She grew up with her 4 younger brothers, two of which were twins, in Wiota, Iowa. Connie played on the basketball team and graduated from Wiota High School in the Class of 1956.

On July 29, 1956, she was united in marriage to Marvin Merl Andersen at the Wiota United Methodist Church. The couple lived north of Walnut until 1958, when they moved to their home south of Elk Horn. They were blessed with four children and in addition to being a mom, she was a farmer working alongside Marvin doing the milking, planting of row crops and helping operate the cow-calf operation. She also raised registered German Shepherd dogs. Connie taught her kids early to have a good work ethic and did this by having them help walk beans and cut thistles; oh boy did she hate thistles! After the kids were grown, she worked as a cook at Elk Horn Kimballton Community Schools for 21 years.

Camping was a huge part of her life, and she didn’t shy away from hooking up and pulling the camper herself. Connie looked forward to the annual Labor Day Family Reunion at Black Hawk Lake in Lakeview, Iowa; a tradition that has been going for 57 years and one the family plans to continue. Her favorite part besides just being with family was the big Sunday meal, and it wasn’t complete without “Grandma’s Brownies.” Peaceful moments at home were spent on her patio with her flowers, watching the cars go by, always curiously asking, “Where are all these people going?” Family, especially her grandkids, brought Connie endless joy!

Connie and Marvin enjoyed time away at Blue Grass Festivals and after his death in 2000 she took numerous bus trips to Branson. Connie was a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church and the Elk Horn Saddle Club. She volunteered at many Blood Mobiles in Elk Horn and for nearly 35 years as a cook in the food stand at the Cass County Fair.

Connie’s good-hearted, family-loving and joking spirit will be deeply missed. She is survived by her children, Tammy (Rodney) Minssen, Chris (John) Dvorak, Annette (Paul) Gude and Gene Andersen; grandchildren, Nicholas (Kelly), Heather (Joey), Amber (Chris), Joshua (Nicole), Jeffrey (Tiffanie), Amanda (Chris), Chance and Zane; 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Tim (Mary) Palmer; sisters-in-law, Bonnie Palmer, Madelyn Palmer and Eileen (Doug) Alff; brothers-in-law, Ivan (Marg) Andersen and Lyle Andersen; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Nona Palmer; parents-in-law, Arlo and Elvera Andersen; husband, Marvin Andersen; grandson, Wyatt Andersen; great-granddaughter, Hannah Mendez; brothers, Ronald (Louene) Palmer, Thomas Palmer and Arlie Scott Palmer; and sister-in-law, Linda Andersen.

Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Sunday, May 11th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 12th at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family for designation at a later date.

Connie often told the story of she and her mom being taken home from the hospital after her birth, in a hearse, by Roland, Peacock and Baxter’s Ambulance/Invalid Coach service and she was always adamant that Rolands would care for her at the time of her death.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.