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Inge Anderson
In Memory of
Inge Erna
Anderson
1920 - 2018
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Life Story for Inge Erna Anderson

Inge Erna  Anderson
Inge Erna (Kobilke) Anderson was born on November 19, 1920 in Landsberg, Germany (current day Gorzow, Poland).

An only child until her only sister, Renate, was born 18 years later, mom and her family had to leave Landsberg on short notice during the war as Russian soldiers were fast approaching the town. The family ended up in Berlin, Germany where she finished high school and worked in a munitions factory. Later in the war as allied bombings became commonplace, mom recalls having to run for bomb shelters and watched as her city collapsed to the massive bombing efforts going on. She recalls running into her burning apartment to retrieve a sack of potatoes! Life was tough for Inge during this depressing time.

As the war ended the Russians ascended upon Berlin and one day Inge and her close friend, who had two babies, had to hide in the attic of the home they were staying when soldiers took over the home. She could hear the presumably drunk soldiers trashing the living quarters below them. It was well-known at the time that the Russian soldiers were raping women they came across and of course mom and her friend were terrified. Eventually a soldier discovered them in the attic and fortunately Inge was holding one of the babies. The soldier took pity on them; believing both were mothers and left them alone!! A very close call indeed.

A couple of years later Inge earned a degree in Cosmetology and while working at a Salon in Berlin met, Ruth, a young American woman visiting Germany who invited her to come to America. Ruth’s family would sponsor Inge. Without hesitation, she agreed and in 1951 boarded a large ship that took her to America!

Soon after landing in NY she found her way to Washington DC where she again worked with her cosmetology skills---even doing Jacqueline Kennedy’s nails one day in the Salon!

It was at a friend's party where she met Bill Anderson for the first time. Bill was ten years younger than Inge but fell in love quickly----arguably over her cooking and the late-evening potato pancakes she served to the men! They married on Valentine's Day in 1954. Craig was born in March of 1956 and Bruce in August 1959.

Inge became a housewife and a terrific one at that. Her strict German upbringing taught the boys the importance of hard work, honesty and much more. Her beloved husband Bill spent over 31 years with the General Accounting Office (GAO) and traveled extensively during his career to far-away places including SE Asia, Africa, and Europe. While Bill was on travel Inge studied oil painting and created some wonderful artwork over the years! Some of the most memorable times in her life were when the family moved to Kailua, Hawaii when Bill landed a coveted Honolulu assignment in GAO! The downside here is that Bill traveled extensively to SE Asia as he was responsible for auditing US military activities in Vietnam, but Inge always kept things running smoothly on the home front, even with two boisterous boys to watch over. Inge also enjoyed gardening, sewing, and decoupage.

Inge loved to cook and home-cooked meals were the norm at the Anderson household. The passion for cooking was picked-up by Bruce and to this day, "home-cooked gourmet meals” are the norm in Bruce's household! Craig followed his father's footsteps and worked for a while at the GAO before ending up in his current position with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The family left Hawaii in 1972 and Bethesda, Maryland become home until 2009 when Bill and Inge moved into a "55-and over" community named Regency at Dominion Valley--closer to Bruce and Tina in Haymarket, Virginia.

Sadly Bill Anderson passed suddenly on December 29, 2013 at the age of 82. A greater adoration of a spouse could not be found as Bill's love and devotion to Inge was unsurpassable! This, despite mom's tough-at-times and irrational demands in the family!! LOL They were married just shy of 60 years!

After Bill's death, Inge wanted nothing more than to be with her "Schatzi" (“Treasure” in German) as they nicknamed each other and she got her wish on February 20th. She was an incredible woman in many ways with many, many friends. She will be sorely missed.

Inge is survived by her sons, Craig Anderson, Bruce Anderson (Tina), Grandsons, Michael and John Anderson, Granddaughter Katrina Anderson, a Nephew, Axel Gutwasser, and a Niece, Beatrix Magnus.


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