Nancy Jones Anderson

Nancy Jones Anderson, recently of La Crescent, MN died in La Crosse, WI at the Brookdale Assisted Living facility on October 1st, 2026.

She was born on July 29th, 1938 in Danville, IL to A.H. & Margaret L. Jones of Robinson, IL. Nancy graduated near the top of her class at Robinson Highschool and entered the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1956. She then joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and majored in French and education. There she met her lifelong partner and husband of sixty-six years, James William Anderson of Wilmette, IL. He preceded her in death in May 2026. They married August 29th, 1959 after graduation, moved to Evanston, IL and then welcomed two sons; Scott of Owatonna, MN and Tim of Seward, Alaska.

Her husband Jim became an Industrial Designer in Chicago so Nancy raised her sons until she went to work with an antique dealer. She then took interest in and became a paralegal. Through neighborhood friends, she met a woman named Rebecca Schneiderman who was the Chairman for the Industrial Commission of Illinois. Nancy then became her assistant and eventually chairman. After some time, Nancy took a test to become an Arbitrator, hearing workman’s compensation cases. Nancy aced the test with the highest score and Governor Jim Thompson appointed her to the position.

Nancy and Jim retired in 1990 and moved to the mountains of North Carolina on Lake Glenville, Cashiers. She continued her legal efforts as a Guardian Ad Litem in their county and as an officer of the court for children. In 2002, they built their next home in Eastman, WI overlooking the Mississippi River at Ferryville so they could be closer to Tim’s children Blake & Alana. As aging continued, it was needed to have a smaller home and the services of La Crosse, WI.

Nancy was an avid reader, gardener, birder and gourmet cook. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, and Brittany spaniels. Nancy and Jim travelled extensively throughout the world seeing much of South/Central America, Europe, and Africa. They both resided their final years at Brookdale Assisted Living in La Crosse, WI.

No services are planned and the family requests donations be made to the La Crescent Library, the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Association or the La Crescent Animal Care.