Noelle "Gerri" Geraldine (Anderson) Swanson

Noelle “Gerri” (Anderson) Swanson, 83, of St. Paul, passed from this world into the presence of her Lord and Savior on November 21, 2023, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul, Nebraska.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 10:30 AM at the First Baptist Church in Dannebrog.  Friends and family may gather at the church one hour prior to the service.  Pastor Mike Bremer will be officiating.  Inurnment will be held in the Oakridge Cemetery in Dannebrog.

Jacobsen-Greenway is entrusted with arrangements; memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church in Dannebrog, NE.

Noelle was born on March 1, 1940 in Minneapolis, MN to David and Bertha Anderson.  She grew up adoring her older brothers, Dean and Bryan.  On June 21, 1958, she married Paul Swanson, who promptly nicknamed her “Gerri” - a name she has gone by for most of her life.

Paul and Gerri made their home in the Dannebrog and St. Paul communities, where she helped on the farm and raised four children.  Gerri was a good cook and a proficient seamstress, who also liked to knit, crochet, quilt and paint fine china.  She enjoyed board games, puzzles, Husker sports, “glamping” and traveling.

Gerri was also a talented musician.  As a member of the First Baptist Church in Dannebrog for 65 years, she was often asked to play the piano or organ for weddings and funerals and was the accompanist for many special music numbers. She was the church secretary for the Grand Island Evangelical Free Church in Grand Island and was also involved in many different church activities over the years.

In addition to raising her children and the demands of being a rancher’s wife, Gerri was employed by Principal Financial Group.  With the arrival of grandchildren, Gerri found herself with a new nickname - Nonnie.  Everyone in her family called her Nonnie.  Nonnie attended as many of her grandchildren’s activities as possible.

Nonnie is survived by her children, Lori (Steve) Vaughn of Jacksonville, FL; Tammy (Steve) Zurbuchen of Wichita, KS; son-in-law, TJ McAndrew of Beaver Crossing, NE, and Russ (Janelle) Swanson of St. Paul, NE; grandchildren, Amy Vaughn (Victor Almodovar), Andy (Josie) Vaughn, Ashleigh (Justin) Browning, Jamie (Dr. Stephanie) McAndrew, Andrea (Anthony) Williams, Dr. Emily Zurbuchen (Dr. Travis Mulliniks), Lilly (Michael) Standfill, Max Swanson, and Cody Swanson; nine great-grandchildren; brother, Dean Anderson; sisters-in-law, Miriam Anderson and Carol Swanson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul; daughter, Nancy; and her grandson, John McAndrew.  She was also preceded in death by her brother, Bryan; and beloved brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

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