Jay Martin Andersen

Memorial services for Jay Martin Andersen, age 95, of Albert Lea will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church of New Richland.  Rev. Paul Andree will officiate.  Interment will be at St. Olaf Cemetery at a later date.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Jay passed away peacefully surrounded by his family Thursday, January 12, 2012 at Mayo Clinic Health System Albert Lea.

Jay Martin Andersen was born on January 4, 1917 to Harry and Ethel (Gettis) Andersen in Leland, Iowa.  He went to school in Chester, IA.   On January 13, 1940 Jay was united in marriage to Pearl Helle.  They farmed in the Emmons, Glenville and St. Charles area.  The couple later moved to the New Richland area where Jay spent many years farming and working at the Huntting Grain Elevator in New Richland.  Jay was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland.  He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, storytelling, traveling.  Jay loved spending time with his family especially with his grandchildren.  He will be deeply missed.

Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Pearl; children, Jon (Teresa) Andersen of Albert Lea, Suzanne (Tom) Zeller of Hugo, MN and Kristin Higginbotham of St. Peter, MN; grandchildren, Victoria (Andy Sharp) Andersen, Sabrina Andersen, Shane (Dena) Moore, Simona (Dan) Boler, Monte Byron, Nichole (Stefan) Schwartzwald, Jade Zeller; Callie (Erik Mead) Higginbotham, Abby (Mark Krogmann) Higginbotham and Britta Higginbotham; great-grandchildren, Taylor and Jackson Sharp, Charlotte and Sarabeth Moore, Fiona, Tierney, Maeve and Kaelin Boler, Gabriel, Vivian and Luciana Byron, and “granddaughter” Brooke Talamantes; sister, Margaret (Don) Hanson of Los Alamos, NM; brother-in-law, Tom Bresee of CA; sisters-in-law, Rita Andersen and Evelyn (Carl) Larsen both of Albert Lea; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents; son, Perry Andersen; and siblings, Ode Bresee, Audrey Oppegard, Cora Bennett, Pat Andersen, Woodrow Andersen, Madonna Towne and Darlene in infancy.