Ann & Sigurd Anderson

A Celebration of the lives of Ann and Sigurd Anderson will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2025, from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. at Allora Café in the Krause Gateway Center at 1459 Grand Avenue.

Both were born on the same day in January 1933, in the same city. Sigurd died on February 13, 2021, followed by Ann’s death on June 23, 2025.

From Sig’s neighbor, Eric Peterson:

“I will never forget standing at a counter in a building on Ingersoll Avenue waiting to pay for Jules Kirschenbaum’s painting Muse. I was unusually happy, but when I looked around, I saw someone happier, a face with a high wattage smile. Before he said a word, and though I had never seen him before, I felt sure this was Sigurd Anderson who had owned it and to benefit the Art Center, donated the painting I was acquiring. We had a brief exchange of words which later had large effects on my life and Peggy’s, but in that first moment, I forgot everything except this man’s intensity of pleasure at my pleasure in gaining what he gave. Taking joy in the joy of others is one of the pinnacles of life. I was lucky enough to see Sig achieve it once. You must have seen it often.”

Ann and Sig made enormous contributions to their community. Sigurd was a faithful member of the Temple B'nai Jeshurun since 1975 and very supportive of the Jewish community here and beyond. He was inquisitive about art, friends, knowledge, and he loved to ask questions. He was a passionate traveler and was as comfortable halfway around the world as he was in his own backyard. Those who knew him well appreciated his gusto for life and his glee at helping others.

Ann was an active community volunteer and supporter from a very young age. She broke glass ceilings before it was a thing. She was the first woman on the Executive Board of Valley National Bank and the first woman on the Drake University Executive Committee. She founded Friends of Public TV, Friends of Drake Arts, and Friends of the Des Moines Public Library. She was also a charter member of Planned Parenthood.

In addition to her family and her philanthropy, Ann was passionate about conservation, education, and travel. The two of them shared a love of gardening and spent hours in their backyard garden house nurturing their favorite boxwood plants and were proud that their gardens appeared on the cover of Beautiful American Vegetable Gardens by Mary Tonetti Dorra in 1997.

Together they supported many causes. One of their favorites, because of their love for Thomas Jefferson, was his home, Monticello. They supported many other causes closer to home including Drake University, the Des Moines Symphony, the Civic Center, the Science Center of Iowa, and the Public Library of Des Moines to name only a few.

They are survived by their daughter, Mertze Anderson, and three grandsons, Ian Green Johnson (wife Amy), Sigurd Einar Anderson IV, and Sean William Anderson.

They were preceded in death by their son, Sigurd Einar Anderson III, their son-in-law, Wade Johnson, their parents, Ralph and Sylvia Green and Clarence and Gladys Anderson.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in Ann and Sig's memory, or by check to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, 505th Avenue, Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309.

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