Roma Jeanne Anderson

Roma Jeanne Anderson died peacefully in her sleep on April 23, 2021 with family by her side. Roma was the third daughter of Harry and Hazel Read, followed by a little brother she laughingly said, lived to torment her. She grew up in the small farming community of Stanhope, Iowa and earned a degree from Iowa State Teachers College. Her teaching career was short lived however. Her first assignment was corralling 37 rowdy kindergarteners, in a makeshift hallway classroom, at an overcrowded school in Waterloo, Iowa. Definitely not her cup of tea. Roma’s dream was to live in California but, as she so frequently related, her parents only drove her as far as Denver and then just dropped her off. With the true grit of a Midwestern girl she quickly found work and settled in. Her true dream was realized after an auspicious blind date where she met the love of her life, Dewayne “Andy” Anderson. After an abbreviated courtship they were married and spent 60 loving years together. Roma was the office manager in a doctor’s office for many years. Later, she and Andy, upon his retirement, spent several years in a semi business/hobby, buying and selling antiques. She always referred to it as treasure hunting. Her only regret in life was not being able to have children but, she had several nieces and nephews who treated their Aunt Roma as a mom. Roma was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Mary (Floyd) Hage, Naomi (Bob) Lee and brother Jack Read. She’s survived by nephews Mark (Janis) Lee, David (Jacque) Read, and nieces Jackie Lee, Jill (Bill) Talbot, Virgie Knutson and sister in-law Shari Read.

The family would like to express sincere thanks to Kathy and Jeff Bryant, who looked in on Roma on a daily basis for several years after Andy passed. Roma always said Kathy was like a daughter to her. We also wish to thank the extremely attentive staff of Partners In Care who assisted with Roma’s needs in her last few weeks.